Hyacinth Chinweuba
The police in Benin, Edo state capital have paraded a man who allegedly defiled and impregnating his 13-year-old daughter.
The man Friday Moses, who hails from Cross River State, but resides in Edo, was alleged to have been having carnal knowledge of his daughter when she was seven years old.
He was among the 76 suspected criminals paraded by the state police command, for alleged involvement in various crimes in the state.
It was disclosed that the victim, a primary six pupil, who lost her mother five years ago, has been living with the suspect who constantly abused her sexually.
The suspect was driven out of Ologbo community, in Ipoba-Okha local government area of the state, when the people discovered that he was sleeping with his daughter.
The suspect was finally arrested by the police, when members of the community informed the police when they discovered that the girl was pregnant for him.
Speaking with journalists at the Edo police command headquarters in Benin, the minor who is five months pregnant, said her father has been having sexual intercourse with her when she was very small.
“My father slept with me five times. He started when I was very small. My father asked me to come to meet him in his room and when I came, he started touching my waist, when I said no, he said If I shout he will use cutlass to kill,” she said.
On his part, the suspect, Friday Moses, who claimed innocence of the allegation, however said that they should take it as her daughter said.
“I have a girl friend before, but when people come to my house and beat me up that I am going out with a married woman, I abandoned her. My wife died five year ago and my daughter is 13 years. I did not impregnate her, but take it the way she says it,” he said.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Babatunde Kokumo, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested for various crimes, including robbery, kidnapping, rape and cultism.
He added that assorted arms and ammunition were recovered from them.
Kokumo assured that the suspects would be charged to Court as soon as investigations are completed.