The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sexual abuse

  • Man, 28, bags 3 years imprisonment for sexual abuse of 3 boys

    A 28-year-old businessman, Abdullahi Mohammed, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for sexual abuse of three boys.

    Mohammed was sentenced on Friday following his arraignment at a Jos Upper Area Court.

    According to the Prosecutor, Sergeant Ibrahim Gukwat, the incident took place on Oct. 22.

    Gukwat said that the accused had been in police custody since then, adding that the case was reported by members of a vigilance group on Nigeria Alikazaure Street.

    The prosecutor said that the vigilance group arrested and bought the accused to Laranto Police Station.

    Gukwat said the accused was caught having anal knowledge of the three boys forcefully.

    “He had three boys at the same time, namely Mustapha Abubakar, 9 years, Umar Usman, 12 years and Haruna Abdullahi, 12 years.”

    Gukwat said during police investigation, it was revealed that the accused was beaten by concerned members of the public.

    ‘’The accused sustained injury from the attack from angry public, but he was taken to the hospital for treatment.”

    On arraignment, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for mercy.

    Gukwat said the offence was contrary to Section 284 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Yahaya Mohammed, sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

    Mohammed said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.

  • My husband fingers our daughters’ genitals, Prophet’s wife tells Court

    My husband fingers our daughters’ genitals, Prophet’s wife tells Court

    A Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) prophet, Sunday Afolabi, has been accused by his wife, Susan, at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court of sexually abusing their daughters.

    Susan alleged that Afolabi was caught inserting his fingers into the private parts of their female children while sleeping in the midnight.

    The woman also accused her husband of doing same for female church members whenever they come for night vigils resulting in members avoiding him.

    The prophet had petitioned the court seeking the dissolution of the 21-year-old marriage accusing his wife of masterminding an assassination attempt on his life, fighting him in public, destruction of church property and instigating the children against him.

    He alleged that his wife threatens his life and fights him with dangerous weapons whenever a disagreement ensues between them.

    But the wife in her response also accused the prophet of smoking Indian hemp, drinking local gin popularly called “ogogoro.”

    She said her husband’s behaviour led to the collapse of the church as people call Afolabi “Indian hemp prophet.”

    Susan told the court that she had two children, Emmanuel (male) and Ifeoluwa (female) from previous marriage whom she brought to the prophet’s home and later bore him five children.

    Giving account on how the prophet was caught in the act, Susan said: “One morning Ifeoluwa who is just 12 years old told me that Sunday came at night to insert his finger into her vagina and I immediately rebuked her and told her to shut her mouth.

    “But the eldest, Emmanuel said he disguised as Ifeoluwa and slept at the same position she normally sleeps and also used her cover cloth to cover his body.

    “When Sunday came as usual and attempted to insert his finger then discovered the person under the cloth is a boy he left hurriedly.

    “One night I also caught him myself; my husband was completely naked and attempted to have sex with one of the female children. He knelt down and was begging me that night that I should not let people outside know what transpired. He even said he didn’t know what came
    over him.

    “People have been saying it that he harassed females during the night vigils in church. This man you are looking likes sex so much. I even attempted to marry more four wives for him which he turned down.

    “He also smokes. There was a day he gave Emmanuel Indian hemp to smoke; he even wrapped Indian hemp in the presence of my twins and take local gins. Each time I challenged him he do say he is taking it because of the cold weather.”

    President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, after listening to both parties, adjourned the matter to 31st of August for judgment.

  • Teenagers warned against sexual abuse, cybercrimes

    With the prevailing level of insecurity in the country, being assertive is a quality one needs to stave off rapists, kidnappers and other anti-social elements on the prowl. Security consciousness, therefore, requires alertness and self-confidence.

    These assertions came from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

    The commissioner addressed a gathering of secondary school pupils in Lagos at the National Theatre, Iganmu, for the annual Goge Africa Foundation and Counselling Seminar last week.

    He said: “One of the commonest factors about criminals worldwide is that they often identify soft targets.  So, when you are on the street, walk with confidence; be bold enough to look into their faces.  Criminals want the lilly-livered they can easily intimidate.”

    Owoseni, who spoke through Frank Mba, an Assiatant Coommisioner of Police, identified various security tips  for youths can stave off sexual abuse and cybercrimes.

    The police boss, who lamented rampant cases of child abuse, especially rape in the society, said young girls need to be quickly aware when they are being stalked.

    “If you feel someone is trailing you, check your movement. You can cross to the other side of the road and pretend to be lacing your shoes to know if the person is still waiting. If the stalker is still there, walk into crowded places like malls, filling stations, markets, until the person disappears,”he said.

    Owoseni urged young girls to always walk in groups, and avoid dark places, especially at night. He warned teenagers against open display of valuable items that could make them potential targets, as well as working on their mobile sets while on highways.

    Sierra Oyerinde of the Christianah Fate Foundation, admonished teenagers to always speak out against what she called ‘ubiquitous sexual predators’ in Nigeria. According to her, research conducted revealed that 30 and 60 per cent of sexual abusers are immediate family members and friends of the family respectively, adding that the remaining 10 per cent are strangers.

    Speaking on: ‘Prevention of child abuse’ Oyerinde warned participants to watch out for abusers, who often plan their strategy gradually.

    “An abuser doesn’t just pounce on you; they first earn your trust,” Oyerinde began.

    “They (abusers) start by wooing you with gifts. When someone gives you gifts and tells you not to tell your parents, that gift is questionable. It’s a red flag. Sometimes someone asks you to send him your nude pictures with a threat that you will die in three days if you confide in anybody. It’s all lies. Speak up. Abuse thrives in secrecy, “she warned

    Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, who spoke on: “Cybercrimes among youths” noted that internet is one of the easiest ways to deceive. As teenagers, Agbata suggested that the friends they cultivate on social media should comprise only family members and friends known by their parents.

    “Internet is the easiest platform where people can be deceived. There are people, who simply claimed what they are not online. This is why I suggested that at this stage of yours, your parents, family members and

  • Sexual assault: Shettima seeks adequate security at IDPs camps

    Sexual assault: Shettima seeks adequate security at IDPs camps

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has reveal plans to enlist the services of undercover female police officers, Department of State Security and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons,(NAPTIP)  the National Drug Law  Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to uncover the veracity of report of sexual abuse on women in IDPs’ camps in the state.

    Shettima stated this at a courtesy call on him by a delegation from the National University Commission who are  on tour of  ongoing infrastructure at the proposed Borno State University held at the Government  House in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    The governor’s concern is coming at the wake of reports by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago accusing security officials of sexually harassing some female IDPs some of whom are allegedly pregnant.

    His words:  ‎”Today, as Governor of Borno State, there is no issue that gives me headache like the unfortunate bye-products of IDP camps. Our citizens were violently sent out of their houses and communities, it is their fundamental rights to be provided alternative accommodation with their food and health cater for. Sadly and very sadly indeed, the IDP camps have become avenues that horrible stories of sexual slavery, prostitution rings, drug peddling and other social vices are emanating from.

    “Only yesterday (Monday) there was a report by a Human Rights group alleging incidences of sexual abuses by some Federal and State workers in some of the IDP camps. This is highly condemnable. Apart from investigating these claims and arresting culprits which is absolutely necessary, I am going to write letters to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and may be the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, requesting all of them to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all our camps to permanently spy on anyone involved in sexual harassment, any form of prostitution, drugs trafficking, possible child trafficking and even the allegations of diversion of food items meant for IDP’s.

    “I would want these detectives to report their findings to their security establishments and whoever is found wanting should be picked up without notifying me so long as there is verifiable evidence to prosecute him or her,” Shettima said.

    Shettima who also appreciates that the present condition of the displaced people especially women can lead them to indulging in illicit activities however vowed that sanity must be injected in the system despite the circumstances.

    He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired of applying the element of persuasion in handling the issues of IDP’s, we need to wield the big stick. The problem with managing the IDP camp is that you are dealing with a population of two or more local government areas in one location and you cannot imprison them by restricting or stopping them from leaving the IDP camp in the day time.

    “When a female IDP leaves the camp in the morning, you cannot be in control of where she goes and who she sees. If she leaves the camp and returns the following day, she may claim to have visited a family member and little can be done. I strongly believe there are cases of sexual harassment but some of the women may be consenting to sexual advances largely due to extreme poverty and loss of value system.

    “We have to instill sanity into the IDP camps and I hope we will not end up having human rights activists telling us we cannot deploy undercover detectives into IDP camps due to one form of rights violation or the other. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Sexual harassment of female IDPs is a desperate situation.

    “None of us here is beyond becoming an IDP if Allah decrees and none of us would fold arms if his or her daughter is in position to be sexually harassed, so we must act now” , Gov. Shettima vows

    Shettima regretted how Boko Haram has painted Borno negatively as oppose to the peaceful nature of the people.

    “The Borno story that has been painted very badly by the Boko Haram. We are even tired of counting the number of deaths, number of those of injured, value of private institutions and private property destroyed and the huge number of persons internally displaced”,  the Governor said.

  • ‘One in three women suffers physical, sexual abuse’

    ‘One in three women suffers physical, sexual abuse’

    ne out of three women suffers physical and sexual violence in the society, the Lagos State government has said.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Mrs Lola Akande made the remark while decrying the challenges faced by the girl child in the country and the world by extension.

    She spoke at the International Day of the Girl Child, at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Mrs Akande said: “The International Day of the Girl Child celebration focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights.

    “Despite all, there is still a great deal to be done to realise the world we want.  One in three women suffers physical and sexual violence. After more than a year, over 200 girls who were kidnapped from their school in northern Nigeria have not been found and the world has largely gone silent. An estimated 222 million women don’t have adequate access to reproductive health care and nearly 50 per cent of the world’s employed women are not protected by equal labour laws and practices.

    “As I speak, Lagos State has graduated 5,951 trainees who successfully completed their training in vocational  skills and trades at the ministry’s skill acquisition centres with start up equipment given to them.”

    She said gender equality must be achieved in order to realise all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , adding: “I am making this clarion call to all stakeholders to come on board and ensure the attainment of the SDGs, especially the attainment of goals 4 and 5 which border on education and gender equality.”

  • Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said in the last one year it handled a total of 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance, just as it vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society.

    The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year, said government, through the agency, equally handled a total of 192 cases.

    Out of the 192 cases, Kazeem said the government handled 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, 6 attempted rape, 10 child neglect and 7 child abuse cases, while 92 cases are presently being heard in court.

    Kazeem said that the State Government under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), among others, have been mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act are brought to justice, victims of domestic violence are given succor towards their rehabilitation.

    “As regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring that victims were evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

    “All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court,” he said.

    He said the essence of the press briefing today aside giving account of efforts of the State Government in the one year, it was also a means to send a strong message across that the government would not relent until the scourge is completely stamped out.

    “As we all know the issues of gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged has been a very critical issue for Governor Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he had said that this issue was going to be something he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, OPD and all other related agencies including the Police Force to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated.

    “Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court,” the Attorney General said.

    He assured that the State Government would continue to build on its recent efforts and step up its campaign efforts to put the issue of domestic violence on the front burner.

    To this end, he said the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, while they can seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.

     

     

  • Dealing with sexual abuse

    DEAR Harriet, I always read your column. God bless you for your good work.  I am a mother of two lovely children, a girl and a boy, and in our home is a 27-year-old man who lives with us as he is  undergoing a business training. He is a relative and we so much loved him. My husband and I treated him like our son.

    One day, my husband came home unexpectedly to pick up some documents, while I was on a trip. This man was caught sexually abusing our eight-year-old daughter in our bedroom. This was a great ordeal.

     Our daughter told us he had been abusing her sexually for a very long time. Based on her story, I will say he had been abusing our daughter for the past four years. I feel so upset and mad with myself that this happened to my daughter right under my roof without me having a clue.

     If not that my husband sent him back to the village, I would have done something terrible to him. The thought of it is giving us a sleepless night.

     The worst part of it is that I am starting to be emotionally distant from her. She seems like a stranger to me. Please, I desperately need your counsel.

     Thanks.

    Name withheld, Abia State.

     

    We commend you for sharing your story. It takes a lot of courage to speak out, especially when the abuser is a close relative.

    Family members of sexually abused children are too ashamed to tell anyone, for fear of bringing disgrace to their family. So, as a result, they cover it under the carpet, pretending that it never happened instead of dealing with the situation.

    Others will shut the child up by blaming or disbelieving the child’s complaint. That you made yours an open case is a step in the right direction because silence does not heal such wounds. Instead, it makes it worse.

    Rape can destroy someone if not tackled properly. It can affect other aspects of the victim’s life. Dealing with the issue of the rape of a girl of eight is not different from that of someone older. Her reaction to the situation might be different because of her age.

    Note that this abuse had been going on for a very long time, since she was four years old. Now she is eight years old. Your innocent daughter, based on what the abuser had made her believe, feels it is the normal way of life.

    Don’t forget that the person here is a mature man who knows exactly what he is doing. Every parent will feel the way you are feeling. Try not to be too harsh on yourself. This is not a time for blame. It is a time for you to walk with your child through the stages of grief and other emotions and reactions.

    Let not forget that the next step is the way forward.  Therefore, help her confront, express and resolve all the feelings by approaching them with understanding and comfort.

    Here are a few tips on what to do: Seek medical attention. It is highly necessary for your daughter, so book an appointment to see a doctor with your daughter. Be open with the doctor about the sexual abuse. Tell him or her everything concerning the rape, so that adequate medical attention will be giving to your daughter.

    Furthermore, because rape isn’t just physically damaging, it can be emotionally damaging as well. A person who has been raped might have mixed emotions.

    They can be angry, scared, or embarrassed, among other feelings. These mixed emotions can manifest themselves in many ways such as troubled sleeping and eating and withdrawal from everyday activities, mistrust towards others, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and extreme fear or paranoia. The best way to deal with the emotional trauma of rape is to seek professional help from a therapist or certified counsellor.

    A professional will take the victim through all the necessary healing processes which are very vital. Rape must not be ignored. In addition, you and your husband must also see a certified counsellor for healing as well so that you will know how to love your child again. This is the time she needs parental love, care, encouragement and support.

    Moreover, the fact about healing is that the situation might get worse before it gets better. At the end of the day, as you go through the stages with activities you will be fine. Above all, don’t forget to take the situation to God in prayers. God Almighty will definitely see you through and your family will smile again.

    The offender must be exposed, so that first, he can face the law for his wicked act. Also to put an end to it, the matter must be reported to the police. If not, the offender will abuse others. This is mainly common with offenders that are well known to the family, for example, relatives and close family friends.

    Our hearts  go to you once again for the bad thing your trusted relative did to your daughter, but the only way you can feel better even in the middle of the whole situation is to confront the issue.

    The rape is not the child’s fault, but the relative who took advantage of the child.  Nobody has the right to rape someone. The innocent child did not ask or want to be raped.  There is no moral justification for his action. Your child is very young to speak for herself, so as a parent, it is your responsibility to put things right for her and yourself. Be her voice no matter what.  Take care of yourself.

     

    Harriet Ogbobine is a counsellor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her on bineharriet@gmail.com or txt message only 08054682598. You can also follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj

  • Congo begins trial of soldiers accused of sexual abuse

    The Congolese Government said on Thursday that it had begun trial of 20 of its soldiers over alleged rape and other crimes committed while serving as UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic.

    Jeanine Mabunda, President Joseph Kabila’s Adviser on Sexual Violence, said in Kinshasa that the soldiers had been in jail since returning to Congo in December, 2015 and January, 2016, following investigations conducted in CAR by military investigators.

    She said that the soldiers were being tried by a military court in Kinshasa.

    An official said on condition of anonymity that the UN mission in CAR had been beset by accusations of sexual abuse since taking over control from an African Union mission in September, 2014.

    He noted that Congo’s 800 peacekeepers serving in the mission were repatriated last month, following a series of accusations of sexual abuse of women and children.

    The official said that Congolese authorities had vowed to investigate the allegations.
    He, however, pointed out that a government spokesman had dismissed many of the allegations as fabricated and accused the UN of singling out Congolese soldiers.

    Meanwhile, the problem has surfaced elsewhere as the UN said this week that it had received new sexual abuse allegations against peacekeepers from Morocco and Burundi, including one that involved a 14-year-old girl.

     

  • How to protect children from sexual abuse

    DEAR Harriet, I am a father of three teenage daughters and a son of 21 years. The stories of abduction and sexual abuse which are rampant in our society today are really giving me cause for worry.  The recent case of Ese Oruru, a 14-year old girl, is an example.  Please, what advice can you give to parents on how to protect their children from abuse and how can parents help an abused child?

    Name withheld, Lagos.

     

    Thanks for your text message. It will interest you to know that you are not alone on this issue of abduction, violation or sexual abuse against children. Most of the messages received were same as yours.

    In today’s world, raising up children is not a piece of cake, nothing can prepare you for being a parent, it is an aspect of life that is most challenging. It tests your nerves, your emotion, your strength and at times your sanity. You start with the different stages of child development, just when you think you have got one phase of childhood cracked, they grow a bit older and it is a whole new game altogether.

    Some parents at this point get confused, not knowing how to relate with their children, some shy away from their responsibilities which make it difficult for them to understand their children, while some parents are in closer relationship with their children.

    As a result, they find it much easier to impact the necessary family values that they need to grow up as responsible adults which will be of great benefit to the society at large. Some people believe that parenting skills should come naturally, but sometimes we all need a bit of help. I suppose that is why parenting skills are something we learn, not something we are born with.

    Protecting children from abusers is to understand as a parent the forms of sexual abuse (touching and non-touching) and that abusers often do not use physical force but may use play, deception, threats or other forms of coercion to engage children and maintain their silence.

    Abusers, in most cases, are not strangers, but people that are close to the family. This information is necessary because only when you as a parent is knowledgeable about these issues that you can effectively relate it to your children. Like the saying goes, you can only give what you have.

    Talking to children early about sexuality, relationships and sex will help them to be able to face all the challenges that are related to it. Today’s children are exposed to so many information about sexuality, relationships and sex, so if parents don’t give the right information, they will definitely pick up messages from their friends, the internet , television and magazines.

    However, this information in most cases is misleading, inaccurate and confusing. Therefore, sex education remains an important job for parents. Research over time has showed that young people would like their mums, dads, or guardians to be the first person to talk to them about their body changes, feelings, relationship and sex.

    Parents should not leave their children without supervision as they relate with people. They should be taught how to set boundaries in interacting with people. Keep your doors open for discussion at all times and learn to be good listeners because children love it when you listen and trust them.

    Only with effective communication skill can you be able to guide and guard your children. Avoid talking down on them, but instead shower your children with love so that they don’t go seeking love outside the home. Hug them, praise them, build their self-confidence, encourage them to be bold and outspoken, not to be timid.

    Furthermore, child abuse can be very traumatic for the child and parents, and if not handle properly can affect the child in other aspects of life. Some people, for instance, behave in a certain way because of what happened to them when they were younger.

    Parents of a child who has gone through this horrible experience must understand that their help is highly needed for the healing and recovery of their child. This is not the time for blame and accusation. Yes, you will feel pain, you will ask yourself many questions without answer, but do they solve the issue at hand. The answer is no, so the way forward is to help the child pick up the pieces and learn to look forward to a better and brighter future.

    A clear understanding of how an abducted, violated or abused child feels after a traumatic experience will help the parents in supporting their child through the recovery process. Sexual abuse can be a lonely and frightening experience. Victims may be left feeling shocked, confused and overwhelmed. They might find themselves unprepared to deal with the many thoughts and emotions that arise.

    Some will find it difficult to sleep, eat, mingle with people. Life on its own might prove worthless; some feel detached from themselves while some will cease to find happiness in what they use to enjoy. These are normal reactions that parents must be aware of in order to have a clear picture of the situation.

    Seeking professional help is a good step to take as well because the counsellor will be able to take the victim through the necessary healing and recovery process which is very important. A lot has happened to the victim whether abducted or abused, so every help available must be given to restore normality in the life of the victim. Finally, parents must learn to report abused cases, no matter who is involved.

    We must make sure as parents that the abuser faces the law for his wicked act that was carried out on an innocent girl. The protection and care of children must be taken seriously by parents or guardians.

     

    Harriet Ogbobine is a counsellor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her on bineharriet@gmail.com or txt message only 08054682598. You can also follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj

  • UN urges action against human trafficking, sexual abuse

    UN urges action against human trafficking, sexual abuse

    The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Thursday called on UN member states to do everything in their power to combat human trafficking, especially for sexual purposes.

    UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson in a statement, said that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Boko Haram were prime perpetrators.

    The Council referred specifically to ISIL’s trafficking in Yazidis and its abuse of international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as such violations by the LRA in Central Africa.

    It also referred to the Nigerian based Islamist Boko Haram group for the purpose of sexual slavery, sexual exploitation and forced labour.

    The Council said that the actions of these terror groups in armed conflict might constitute war crimes.

    It urged member states to implement all relevant resolutions to improve implementation of applicable legal obligations to criminalise, prevent, and combat trafficking in persons.

    It also urged member states to ratify the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children.