The Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Unit of the Delta State Ministry of Justice has raised alarm over the high cases of defilement of minors in the State.
The Director of Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Unit in the Ministry, Mrs. Uche Akamagwuna, disclosed the statistics of defilement and domestic violence cases being prosecuted by the Ministry in Asaba during the ongoing awareness campaign in schools against sexual and domestic violence.
Mrs Akamagwuna, a lawyer, said that the Ministry was currently prosecuting over 300 cases of defilement of minors alone and over 50 cases of domestic violence including five cases of incest in all the courts of criminal jurisdiction across the State.
According Mrs Akamagwuna, who could not hold her emotions as she burst into tears while narrating the ordeal of a 17 year old girl who was ganged raped by a group of nine boys at Ogume, Ndokwa West, said that the cases of defilement had assumed a dangerous proportion.
She said, eight out of the nine boys that allegedly raped the 17 years old girl had been arraigned in court and remanded in prison custody by a Kwale High Court, while one of the boys was still on the run.
According to her, the court had issued a bench warrant of arrest against the remaining accused person still at large, one Mr Lucky Ochade, a 46 year old builder whose last known address was No 10, Okete Street, Ogbeole, Ogume and subsequently declared him wanted.
While addressing students of Madonna International Secondary School, Asaba, the director told them that sodomy, which is having canal knowledge of another against the order of nature, and other sexual offense including rape, defilement, indecent assault, were grave offenses punishable under the law.
She said, “The prescribed punishment for rape and defilement under sections 357 and 218, Cap C21, Volume 1 of Laws of Delta State, 2006, is life imprisonment while indecent assault under section 360 carries 2 years imprisonment for offenders.
“The punishments for incest and sodomy are spelt out under section 214, Cap C21, Volume 1, laws of Delta State, 2006 which is life imprisonment.”
Mrs Akamagwuna who disclosed that the state government had zero tolerance for all forms of sexual related offences, averred that the Child’s Right Law which had since been domesticated by the Delta State Government, adequately protected the rights and the dignities of every child irrespective of creed, religion, tribe or social status.
She warned against indecent dressing, cultism and access to x rated films which she noted were capable of promoting improper sexual behaviour, adding that they should resist all forms of abuse and speak out should anyone attempt to take advantage of them.
