Lagos police confirm arrest of guard over rape of four-year-old girl

THE Lagos State police command has confirmed the arrest of a security guard at Greater Scholars International School who is suspected of raping a four-year-old female pupil of the school.

The command’s public relations officer (PRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Saturday, May 13 in a post he shared via his official Twitter handle.

“The suspect has been arrested and is still in custody. A medical report that would ensure a conviction is being expected.

“We don’t pander to emotions but deal with evidence to prove issues beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

The Lagos State Domestic Violence Agency (DSVA) also said via Twitter on Saturday, that the survivor was receiving medical support.

“On May 3rd, 2023, we received a report of this case through our toll-free line and acted promptly by referring the child for medical and psychosocial support.

“We also alerted the Ajiwe FSU Police Division for investigation. The suspect is currently in police custody. The case would be transferred to Gender, Lagos State Police Command before it is charged to court on Monday,” the agency stated.

On Friday, May 12, a Twitter user, Omolomo, also raised an alarm over the same incident.

“So a 4-year-old girl was raped by the security of a school in Lekki, Lagos. The name of the school is Greater Scholars International school.

“The father of the girl went to report the case to the police but the owner of the school brought thugs to threaten him,” Omolomo tweeted.

Several cases of sexual abuse against children by staff of schools had been recorded in Nigeria.

In 2021, a 14-year-old boarding student of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Keren-Happuch Akpager, died after she was raped and a condom left in her vagina.

An autopsy report showed that the victim was also sodomised, and her mother, Vivienne Akpager, alleged that the rape occured within the school premises.

However, two years after the incident, the rapist is yet to be apprehended and the matter remains unresolved.

In Nigeria, six out of every 10 children suffer from one or more forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence before the age of 18. More than 70 per cent children experience this violence repeatedly, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.