By Asabe Umar
Minna
Treasure (real names withheld) is a 12-year-old girl, who resides with her parents in an apartment along Niteco road, Tunga area Minna, the Niger State capital. She is still in primary school just like many of her friends. The girl enjoyed good relationship with her parents and their neighbours. She was so at home that she had no cause to feel insecure in the environment that she had been living with her parents. The parents, without any suspicion of any attack, would keep the girl alone at home, while they go out. But they never knew the danger they were exposing Treasure by abandoning her lonely. Treasure became a sex toy to two rapists, who capitalized on her loneliness. As if dehumanizing the little girl was not enough, the rapists even threatened to kill her if she reports to her parents. While the rapists satisfied themselves, Treasure was in agony as she endured for more than one month until she opened up dramatically for her friend during a visit.
However, the police in Niger State have arrested the two suspects, Elijah and Christian, for breaking into a home and raped Treasure severally.
The suspects had broken into their victim’s apartment along Niteco road, Tunga area Minna, while her mother and other members of the family were away. One of the suspects had sneaked into Treasure’s apartment while brandishing a dagger with which he threatened to kill her if she refused to yield to his amorous desire.
After forcefully having carnal knowledge of the girl, our correspondent gathered that the suspect invited his best friend and encouraged him to join him in his amorous activities which he (friend) obliged.
The friend is said to have visited and again had sex with Treasure the next day, and so it continued as they took turns to rape her and during any of such visits threatened the girl not to tell anyone what was happening between them else they would kill her.
Already traumatized by the escapades of Elijah and Christian, aged 17 and 20, respectfully, Treasure in perpetual fear could not tell her mother for fear of being killed until last weekend when she visited a family friend with her mother.
While at the family friend’s house, Treasure confided in a friend about her ordeal since mid April and the friend encouraged her to tell her mother and to ignore threats of being killed by the rapists.
While they were set to go, it was gathered that Treasure refused to follow her mother back to their house. After entreaties, Treasure opened up to her mother as she was advised by her friend and the mother later took her for medical check-up where it was confirmed that she had been sexually abused and the case subsequently reported to the police.
The police were said to have initially arrested one of the suspects but later released him under questionable circumstances while the second suspect was also said to be on the run. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State command, ASP Elkanah Bala, confirmed the rape of the minor. He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.
The case was not reported until after about two weeks it happened, Elkanah said, as he warned that any policeman found to have tried to provide cover to any of the rapists would have him or herself to blamed.
