A man has been detained over allegations of defiling his 14-year-old niece inside a boat at the Slaughter Axis of Swali Market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, May 18.
According to local residents, the girl was sent by her mother to the market to meet her uncle, who manages a small boat at the waterside, to gather snails from the river.
Tragically, upon entering the boat, the girl, who was a virgin, was assaulted by her uncle. The incident was discovered when market security personnel intervened and apprehended the man.
During questioning, he confessed to the assault and pleaded for mercy. He was stripped, tied with his hands behind his back, and beaten with a cane by the security agents.
A market woman who first confronted the suspect recounted the incident, saying she found the girl crying uncontrollably. When she inquired about her tears, the girl revealed that her uncle had raped her. She explained that her mother had sent her to pick up snails from her uncle’s boat.
The woman added, “I saw the girl crying bitterly and asked her what was wrong. She told me her uncle had raped her. She also pleaded that she was still a virgin, but the man ignored her and went ahead. This man is wicked; he has been abusing other innocent girls in the area. He won’t escape justice this time.”
The suspect has been handed over to the Bayelsa State Police Command for further investigation.
