The Edo State government has handed over 70 years old Francis Ezomo, and his two sons; Nosa Ezomo, 26 years old and Festus Ezomo, 29 years old, to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl, who is a relative of Mr Francis Ezomo’s wife.
The Acting Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, told journalists after the suspects were handed over to the Police at Government House, Benin City, that the case was reported to her office by the headmistress of the minor.
“The issue came to the limelight when the headmistress of the minor’s school noticed a change of behaviour in the minor and decided to ask her what the problem was. The nine years old girl narrated her ordeal to the headmistress who then informed the Education Secretary of the local government council where the alleged crime took place. We then swung into action and got the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development involved,” Dr. Oviawe said.
The SUBEB boss added that when “we could not get the necessary action required from the Police, the state government swung into action and these three men were apprehended almost immediately.”
She explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has taken custody of the child who is now in a safe place and assured that SUBEB would ensure that her education is not truncated.
“What the men have done is bad and their actions have attempted to destroy the life and future of the minor. The three men took advantage of the child and exposed her to trauma. We have waded into the case to ensure justice prevails,” Oviawe said.
The commissioner of police assured that his men would investigate the allegation and charge the case to court.
“Scientific investigation for the minor was sent to the hospital and a doctor report has shown that her hymen has been broken. The scientific report has established that the minor was sexually abused. We will investigate the case and charge them to court,” Kokumo said, and urged parents not to leave the duty of nurturing their children to teachers in schools.
“Nurturing a child is not just the responsibility of the school, both parents and guardians have a lot of roles to play in the proper training up of our children,” the police boss said.
The suspects, 70 years old, Friday Ezomo and his two sons, Nosa and Festus being paraded at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.