The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has confirmed the rape of a minor by a soldier at Umuezeoka village in the war-torn Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
One of the military men (name withheld) deployed to the community allegedly raped the 13-years-old- girl who had gone to fetch water within the neighborhood.
The soldier had allegedly grabbed the young girl and dragged her into an uncompleted building where he abandoned the girl in the pool of blood after the act.
Chairperson, FIDA, Ebonyi State, Mrs. Grace Iheanacho-Chima, who disclosed this said that the suspect has been fished out through the effort of the commandant of the Nkwegu Military Cantonment, Lt. Colonel Erhabor Igbinadolor. She said that the commandant frowned at the unpleasant act, adding that processes were on the ground to take the culprit to the 82 Division, Enugu for court-martial.
“She was brutally raped at the war zone in Effium by a soldier that she bled for many days even in the hospital; it was so bad that she underwent some operations to correct the damage done during the act.
“At that juncture, the attention of FIDA was drawn from the point that she was admitted at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, for the surgery, so I personally went there and saw her bleeding profusely on her hospital bed.
“Immediately, FIDA petitioned the Military Cantonment Commandant in the state, and because of the seriousness, I personally delivered the letter and speedy action was taken, a few days after, the defaulting soldier was arrested”,
she said.
The FIDA chairperson said that on the invitation of the commandant, she in company with the victim and her mother, armed with photographic and video evidence of her bleeding, went to the cantonment where their statements were obtained.
The mother of the victim, Mrs. Ogonna Igwe said that the incident happened on March 21, 2021, between 1 pm and 3 pm when she sent the girl in company with others to go and fetch water.
According to her, she became worried when her daughter exceeded the time she ought to have returned and in the course of searching for her, she saw the victim in pains and in the pool of blood inside an uncompleted structure.
The troubled woman called on the authorities to help her get justice even as the girl is undergoing treatment.
The army could not react as at the time of press.
