Sexually Violated Gift Alonge :Tales of a Child Bride, Broken by Biological Father.
By Eben Enasco Kingsley
There can be no secrets anymore in the entire Ososo Community, Akoko Edo Local Government area, Edo State on One of the most memorable but appalling case of a seventeen years old girl sexually violated by her own biological father.
The Victim, Gift Alonge was admittedly hacked through seduction and perhaps bullied to bed by his father, Jacob Alonge an over 57-year-old man, who was alleged to have crudely in 2017 aborted the unborn child having impregnated her own daughter earlier in series.
Like "abiku" calling for the first and repeated time, the love evil sickening merchant for the second time impregnated the underaged daughter to climax his sexual unruly contents.
The victim had languished in ignorance, hoping to get help and move off the aprons of his gory father who barely have idea on the distinction between father and child.
Thankfully, she got one through Braveheart Initiative, (BHI), a non state actor who intervened on December 18, 2018 a time when Gift was already again 21-week pregnant for his love bird father.
Concerned by the unruly bully that led to the pregnancy stigma, and a unique mandate of the group to follow the rule of law, the issue was presented to the traditional ruler of the community who in his wisdom foresaw atrocity committed and summoned the perpetrator, Jacob Alonge who admitted to luring the daughter for sexual exploitation
Not once, not twice, not thrice but many a time he had bullied his own daughter for sexual fusion with nature the only witness on this submission.
Peeved by his admittance, the traditional ruler instructed that he(Jacob) be made to face law enforcement agencies for onward justice prevalence.
According to the Chairperson, BHI Board of trustees, Lady Grace OSAKUE, "a team was assigned to follow up the case who interfaced with both Ososo divisional police station and at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID,Benin City.
"We also interacted with the Victim's maternal Uncle who volunteered to offer her shelter to enable them conduct counseling and register the expectant mother for Ante Natal care".
The unremorseful Jacob Alonge who made some confessions at Ososo Police Division was later transferred to the family Unit of the State Police Headquarters.
Lady OSAKUE in her expression noted that the perpetrator was later arraigned before a family court in Evbouriaria Benin City having pleaded to be guilty of the count charges against him.
Days away for judgment sledged hammer to fall on suspect, Lady OSAKUE says," On January 16, 2019,when court had fixed for judgment, a terrible accident occurred, wherein the pregnant Ms. Gift Alonge (Victim), her Uncle, Mr Ukere Adagbogu, two members of the BHI intervention team, Comrade Rhoda Briamoh and Promise Ezekiel on their way to court from Igarra to Benin for court judgment lost their lives in a ghastly Motor Accident.
On awareness of the incident, the court magnanimously adjourned the case till February 14, 2019
Days after the tragic, a resentful candlelight procession was organized in honor of the fallen heroes who pertinently gave their all to ensure victory
Speaking during the procession, Lady OSAKUE expressed saddened pain for what she described as excruciating to have lost them; adding that, "their call this time is for justice to prevail for the heroes".
She however seeks that more advocacy be carried out to condemn violence against the plight of women in the society.
Child sexual abuse in Nigeria is an offence under several sections of chapter 21 of the country's criminal code. The age of consent is 18
UNICEF reported in 2015 that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.
According to a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, over 31.4 percent of girls there said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind.
The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development reported that 1,200 girls had been raped in 2012 in Rivers, a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria.
According to UNICEF, six out of ten children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical or sexual abuse before the age of 18, with half experiencing physical violence.
In our modern time, it is in our nature to be appalled by such things as incest, however the scriptures do not condemn or applaud the fact that Lot’s daughters sleep with him.
Instead the text remains neutral, merely offering an explanation as to why it happened, and attempting to absolve all of guilt. But then, it's a taboo in this context to think of such.
Conditions that increases the risk of girl-child sexual assaults in Nigeria can be found in schools, baby factories and the practice of child labour.
Sexual harassment and bullying are very similar. They both involve unwelcome or unwanted sexual comments, attention, or physical contact.
However, Child sexual abuse has substantial consequences not only for the affected persons, but also for society as a whole, and these can no longer be ignored.
Unlike Nigeria, Urgent situation has now been recognized in Morocco which is responding with a diverse range of prevention and intervention programs.
A curious case of Gift Alonge and others who departed and several outcry that has become very disturbing for the course of Justice, must be unmasked
However, identifying the serious shortcomings in data tend to impede the effectiveness of such measures.
Thus, improved studies are required in order to provide data on the accurate magnitude of the CSA, on its distribution and factors that point to vulnerability.
