Fathers responsible for half of Edo’s 70 child defilement cases
Edo State Government has revealed a troubling rise in child defilement cases, with fathers identified as the main offenders. Eugenia Abdallah, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, shared these details at a press conference, alongside Kassim Afegbua and Innocent Bello. The victims are mostly young children, with some as young as two years old. The government is working to protect vulnerable citizens and support survivors.
What happened
- Between January and July 2026, over 70 child defilement cases were recorded in Edo State, with more than half perpetrated by fathers.
- Eugenia Abdallah disclosed that victims ranged from two to 10 years old, and highlighted a case of a 14-year-old girl, eight months pregnant by her father.
- The state government is committed to protecting vulnerable citizens and supporting survivors through economic and social programmes.
- Kassim Afegbua reiterated the ban on motorcycle movement in Benin metropolis for security reasons, citing daily security concerns.
- Innocent Bello explained that delays in land document processing are often due to the detection of fake application documents.
