Yemisi Izuora
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested a 30-year old Shedrach Ozoemena Nwekeagu for allegedly raping a six-year old school pupil.
The suspect, from Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, is the Head Teacher of a private school in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the victim’s father, who reported the matter to NAPTIP, he observed that his daughter complained of stomachache and saw bloodstains on her underwear when she came back from school.
Upon enquiry, she informed her parents that Nwekeagu had inserted his finger into her vagina the previous week, and a week later, he brutally raped her in the classroom after school hours, while they waited to be picked up by their parents.
Some teachers in the school also informed NAPTIP that they had their suspicions about Nwekeagu sexually molesting pupils in the school, but were afraid of speaking out because the suspect is a relative of the proprietress of the school, and they were afraid they would lose their jobs.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, condemned in strong terms the alleged rape, and assured that the suspect will be thoroughly prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
Okah-Donli cautioned school proprietors to “ensure they run a background check on the teacher they employ to teach the children, so as to avoid horrible incidents such as this.
“It is quite unfortunate that the teacher who is meant to guide and shield a pupil is the one who ends up molesting the child.”
The NAPTIP boss also encouraged members of the public to be vigilant and observe any lewd act being meted towards any child, and not to hesitate in reporting such to NAPTIP for investigation.