Man arrested for allegedly defiling 3-year-old girl in Plateau

The Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of one Job Josiah for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl (name withheld) in the state. Daily Trust reports that the incident occurred on Sunday in the Mista Ali community of Bassa Local Government Area.  Residents said the incident had generated tension before the police intervened. […]

The Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of one Job Josiah for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl (name withheld) in the state.

Daily Trust reports that the incident occurred on Sunday in the Mista Ali community of Bassa Local Government Area. 

Residents said the incident had generated tension before the police intervened.

Fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday at the State Police Command, the State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect is currently at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command.

He said: “With regard to the rape case that happened at Mista Ali, I personally called for the case. When the case was reported, there was a lot of tension, and we had to move in quickly and arrest the suspect. The suspect is presently with the State CID. We are making progress on that case.”

Daily Trust reports that the arrest of the suspect followed a complaint by the victim’s parents, who cried out for justice over what they described as a deliberate and selfish act by the suspect.

Narrating the incident, the victim’s mother said: “The incident occurred when the victim was going to see her father, but [the suspect] stopped her, lured her into his provision shop, and defiled her. On the day of the incident, I saw her outside the house in a strange condition. I noticed she had the smell of alcohol on her body.

“She started crying, and I didn’t know what had happened to her. When I checked her private parts, I was devastated and couldn’t continue. I then called my neighbour to come see what had happened to the girl. When we asked the victim who did this to her, she said, ‘Mai Shago’ (Shop owner). We are calling for justice. She is just a minor, and her father has been ill.”

The mother was visibly shedding tears as she spoke.

Relatives of the victim claimed they had taken her to a hospital where it was confirmed that she was defiled.