Anambra Vows Justice for 16-Year-Old Abused by Eight Men
The Anambra State Government has pledged full protection and legal action following the repeated sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl by eight men, including her guardian, in Nawfia community.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi, received the affected child at her office on Thursday, brought by a Catholic priest who intervened after learning of the abuse. A medical report confirmed the teenager is two months pregnant.
“The state government condemns this act in strong terms,” Onyekesi said, visibly emotional. “All perpetrators must face justice to serve as a deterrent. It is unacceptable that adults entrusted with her protection became the source of her trauma.”
According to the affected person’s account, her guardian assaulted her nightly before other men joined. The guardian’s wife, a stroke patient, was unable to intervene. Police at Nawfia Division have arrested two suspects; six remain at large.
Onyekesi urged men to protect vulnerable girls instead of exploiting them, assuring the teenager of her safety and promising diligent prosecution of the case.
Child protection advocates have called for stronger community safeguarding mechanisms, noting that the abuse continued for weeks before a “Good Samaritan” facilitated the rescue.
The case is currently handled at Nawfia Police Station, with the state Ministry of Women Affairs monitoring proceedings to ensure the affected child receives medical care, psychosocial support, and legal redress.
