Police in Enugu said two suspects including a 61-year-old grandmother who had allegedly been giving out her seven-year-old daughter to men for unlawful carnal knowledge, have been arrested and charged to court.
In a statement in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and spokesperson for the state police command said the woman whose identity was not disclosed, had been exploiting her daughter for financial gains.
“The victim’s grandmother, 61, a native of Imezi-Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area, residing in the same address, was said to have been in the habit of exploiting the minor for financial gains.
“This is by giving out her seven-year-old granddaughter out to men for unlawful carnal knowledge”.
Ndukwe added that the girl was rescued after the police arrested the grandma.
“With the suspects re-arrested, the victim was rescued and handed over to Enugu State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Department for safe custody.
“The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for thorough investigation and prosecution of the suspects on the order of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Aliyu,” he noted.
He said the suspects under investigation for the alleged crime included a 25-year-old native of Akwa Ibom State and the grandmother of the victim, who was an accomplice.
Both were charged to court on Tuesday, June 22, and have baan remanded at the Enugu Custodial Centre pending further hearing of the case.
“This development followed the swift intervention of the Command, re-arresting of the suspects and conclusion of preliminary investigation into the case,’’ he said.
The 25-year-old prime suspect, resident at Ugwuabor Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, was alleged to have on June 13, had unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor with the alleged permission of her grandmother.
The police said the suspects were initially arrested by men of a Neighbourhood Watch group but re-arrested on June 16, by police operatives of Abakpa Police Division of the state police command.
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