Bayelsa Govt pledges support to 5 months pregnant 14-year-old sexually abused by father

The government of Bayelsa on Friday said it would provide psychological and sundry support to a 14-year-old girl put in the family way by her 38-year-old biological father.

Mrs. Dise Ogbise, Coordinator of Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) in Bayelsa said that the team got wind of the abuse from members of the public and subsequently swung into action.

She said that the 38-year-old man residing at PDP Road, Yenagoa who had been sexually abusing his own daughter since she was seven is already in the custody of the Police.

Ogbise noted that the victim requires a lot of support as she goes through the rigours of pregnancy at a very tender age, adding that the government would ensure that she continues her education.

She said that the victim, a Junior Secondary School student who aspires to be a musician, would be assisted to achieve her life’s goal.

Applauding the neigbour who gave the tip-off to GRIT, Ogbise 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.

She assured that GRIT was committed to protecting the rights the girl child and urged the public to always speak up and reach out to relevant authorities.

It was learnt at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa that the suspect, who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira in Ogoni in Rivers, was arrested following a formal complaint from GRIT.

According to Ogbise, the neighbours alleged that the father has been allegedly violating his daughter since the age of 7 years but things got  when the victim’s mother died a few years ago.

They said that the suspect replaced his deceased wife with his daughter on his matrimonial bed.

SP Asinim Butswat who also confirmed the incident said in a telephone interview on Friday that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.