Men of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a 38 years old Father, Baridap Needman for allegedly impregnating his biological daughter.
The father and daughter who live together in a one room apartment along the popular PDP road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were said to be cohabiting since the death of his wife, who died three years ago.
The suspect hails from Ogani Wily Kaira in Ogoni, Rivers State. He was arrested following a formal complaint from the State Gender Advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) led by Dise Ogbise.
According to Ogbise and Mrs. Mary Pekeowei, the GRIT was tipped off by a concerned neighbor who noticed that the victim was five months pregnant and the father was responsible for the pregnancy.
It was gathered that the arrested father has been violating his daughter since the age of seven by using his fingers on the victim’s private part. This, however, got worsened when the victim’s mother died few years ago.
It was further gathered that the accused immediately replaced his deceased wife with his daughter on his matrimonial bed.
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Our correspondent gathered that while the 14years old girl, who is in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3, was sleeping with the father on the bed, the two junior brothers were allocated to sleep on the floor.
However, policemen at the Ekeki Police Station, where the case was reported, were shocked when the pregnant 14 years old declared that she was in love with her accused father.
The Chairperson of GRIT, Dise Ogbise, confirmed to newsmen that the advocacy group will collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to offer psycho-social support to the victim and ensure that she is well taken care of until delivery.
She said, “Abortion is not an option and the two brothers have been handed to their family member for proper care. The girl will be in government custody as she needs to go back to school. Her dream is to be a musician and we will encourage her”
Also speaking, Mrs. Pekeowei, called on residents of the state to be vigilant and alert the GRIT and other gender advocacy groups in the state of any case of girl child violation or molestation in any form
“Members of the public should always speak up and reach out to relevant authorities,” she said.
