Man arrested for defiling seven-year-old girl in Anambra

A 30-year-old man, Chinonso Nwaebonyi, has been arrested by security operatives for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

Nwaebonyi, originally from the Izzi community in Ebonyi State, was apprehended following a report by the girl’s mother to the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, media aide to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.

According to the statement, the suspect initially denied the allegation but later admitted to the crime, claiming it only happened once.

The statement revealed that the seven-year-old, along with her twin brother, often went to a neighboring compound to play. It was during these visits that the suspect allegedly assaulted her multiple times, with incidents occurring on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The girl’s mother became aware of the situation when she noticed her daughter’s private area was swollen after returning from work. Upon questioning, her daughter revealed the abuse, leading the mother to report the case to both the guardians of the suspect and the authorities.

Nwaebonyi admitted to the crime during interrogation but claimed he did not force the child, only instructing her to lift her clothes and lie down.

The seven-year-old and her twin brother were born after 10 years of childlessness, making the incident particularly devastating for the family.

Nwaebonyi has since been handed over to the police for further interrogation and will face charges in court.

The 2015 Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act criminalizes all forms of violence against women and girls, including rape and defilement, with offenders facing life imprisonment or up to 14 years, depending on the nature of the crime. Anambra State has seen several arrests related to rape and defilement, with many cases awaiting prosecution in court.