DAILYPOST’s investigation has uncovered how officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, neglect rape cases of minors brought to their desks.
A case in reference is that of a certain teenager, Blessing Yahaya, who was raped by her father at the age of 11 and the matter was consequently reported at the Apo police station in Abuja sometime last year.
DAILY POST gathered that nothing has been done regarding the case yet as the officers in charge of the have either claimed they were tired of it, or not willing to continue due to external forces.
Blessing Yahaya, as reported by DAILYPOST in 2015, was raped by her father, Mr Yakubu Yahaya, when she was 11 and in search for justice, the teenager had lodged a report at the Apo Police Station.
The violated and abused teenager, in an exclusive chat with DAILYPOST had said, “I am 16 years old now, I was raped while living with my father and his family at the age of 11. My mother was raped 16 years ago by the same man, Mr Yakubu Yahaya who currently resides in Karu, a suburb of Abuja.”
She said the rape ‘on her mother’ resulted into pregnancy.
“I am the product of the dastardly act committed by my father,” the victim sobbed.
Narrating how her mum was raped, she said “Mummy told me that she was about my age when the incident happened.
“Mr Yahaya Yakubu who is my father was actually staying with my mum’s elder brother, and raped my mum when no one was in the house. Mummy was only 11 years of age then. He cautioned my mum not to tell anybody, but for how long could one hide such thing?
“My mummy took in, gave birth to me, and my dad later accepted me into his house. This is because mummy was not having money to take care of me,” the teenager added.
Speaking on how the same man who raped her mother, raped her and threatened to kill her, Blessing who hails from Kogi State said her father is a serial rapist, and that the police never took their plight seriously.
“This same man still walks freely without been questioned by security agents.
“It’s very difficult for one to relate with such story. My father is a rapist. That is all I can say.
“I have searched for justice everywhere, and I’m yet to get the right response.
“My father raped me at the age of 11,” she reechoed,
“I was with him and the rest of his family, because mummy really did not have money to take care of me.
“One day, my father raped me and warned me not to tell anyone. He said I was going to die the moment I let it out. But when mummy visited one day, I was moved to tell her. I said I was ready to face the consequence of revealing such terrible secret to her. I told her that I may die after narrating the incident to her.
“After I told her that I was raped, she did not believe me in the first place. She then checked my private part and later took me to the hospital for a proper test.
“The test, however, confirmed that I was raped. Mummy was angry and we approached the Brekete family where we met Ordinary Ahmed and Aunty Dorothy (Dorthy Njemanze Foundation – a human rights activist based in Abuja).
“Since then, Aunty Dorothy has been up and doing to make sure I break out of the depression the incident caused me. Well, Ordinary Ahmed did what he could within his own power but after the case was reported at the Apo police station, nothing has been done. My father is still walking like a free bird,” Blessing lamented.
Speaking about her father, Blessing said, “He abandoned me after the incident; we are no longer in touch. I was told he lives somewhere in Karu. He has never been remorseful about his action. He has never shown any regrets and the security agencies have not helped matters either.
“I thank God for my Aunty Dorothy. She has been so supportive,” the rape victim quipped.
Meanwhile, as a follow up on the matter, DAILY POST contacted Ordinary Ahmed of Brekete family.
He said, “I don’t have any update on that issue. It’s unfortunate but nothing has been done.”
However, our correspondent visited the police station to inquire about the proceedings following the case.
When contacted, an Inspector of Police, IPO / JWC, Juvenile Welfare Centre, Justina Nwachukwu at the Apo Police Station, Abuja told DAILYPOST she had taken her hands off the case.
She said,”We reported and handed over the case to the Social Welfare office at Area 10.
“We went there together with one Madam Dorothy Njemanze and the Director of Social Welfare handed the girl over to her.”
The IPO, speaking further, asked, “Who reported the case to you and where did you get the initial story from?”
Our correspondent told her it was follow up investigation, but she responded ,”That thing you are doing is against our work, so you wait and get your findings from the social welfare.
“I cannot tell you anything for now, it’s against my work,” Justina yelled.
Also when cntacted, the Officer in charge, OC / JWC, simply identified as Madam Amaka at the same station said “I am not in the office.
“Please the case is with the social welfare.”
When asked if any arrest had been made, she said “Arrest from where?
“If you need any information, you can go to Command. They have handled the case before now. You can ask Blessing or the mother, she will direct you more.”
Speaking further in an unfriendly tone, the OC said, “In short, I don’t know and please don’t call my line ever again, who even gave you my number? Don’t call me on this issue again because I will not be happy with you.
“You can do your job and let me do mine but obviously not on this particular issue, you cannot get details from me. You don’t need to hear from me.
“They have settled the matter at ‘Command’, they even went to the village to settle issues and when they came to Apo, I transferred the matter to the social welfare so they will go there and settle.
“Contact them (the victim and the mother), you will hear more from them, not me.
“Don’t ever call me again,” Amaka warned.
All efforts to reach the Social Welfare Director proved abortive as she was not available at the time of filing this report.
A source at the Social Welfare who does not want his name in print, however, told DAILY POST that it was quite ironical and most unfortunate that the police could refer such a criminal case to them when they had not even investigated the case at all. The source said, ” Now tell me, what have the police done so far? What have they achieved in this case? Is this not a criminal case? The case is with us, but what can we do when those who are supposed to prosecute the matter are running from their responsibility?
More to follow…
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