By Mayowa Olumuyiwa
Following the circulation of a popular video on social media of a 19-year-old girl named Fatima Yusuf, who is seeking justice against her biological father, whom she said has been having sexual intercourse with her since she was 12, the wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu, has intervened in the matter, noting that she wants justice to be served on the case.
The First Lady, upon watching the video, sent a team from her office to interact with the girl, her relatives and the police. In a swift response, the father of Fatima, who was earlier reported to have absconded, was rearrested by the police and the case is being transferred to Akure, Ondo State Capital.
While expressing her deep concern, Mrs. Akeredolu said perpetrators of such heinous acts of sexual violation and child abuse should not be tolerated in any sane society.
She also noted that ensuring justice is served for Fatima would send a strong message to other perpetrators of such crimes. She went on to stress that the full weight of the law would be served on anyone found guilty of such bestial practice.
While recounting her ordeal, Fatima said her father had been sexually abusing her since she was an underage. She explained how he defiled her on the kitchen floor at the dead of the night.
In her statement, “I remember my father coming to wake me up in the dead of the night and led me to the kitchen which was downstairs. He threatened me with a cutlass and kept slapping me and said if I do not cooperate, he was going to kill me. He also had a knife in his hands. He finally deflowered me at 13.”
Fatima, who said she was never pregnant for her father because he monitored her menstrual cycle, further observed that whenever she tries to bring up the topic, her mother will shut her up. She narrated that her sister also reported a similar incident to their mother lately, and that her elder sister had long left home and would never visit whenever she is in Owo.
Still recounting her horrible experience, she went on to say, “My mother never gave me the chance to speak to her. Once I tried to express it, she would shut me off. I have asked her a number of times if truly the man I call my father is indeed my biological father. My younger sister even told my mother recently that daddy was touching her breast, but mother simply shunned us and asked us to leave.”
When Fatima was asked why she finally opened up on the issue after a long time, she said it was God, as she never had any intention to speak up even though she had threatened her father several times to so do.
“He initially told me I would be free in 2018, then again in 2019 but when he came again in 2020; I told him if he doesn’t free me, I would free myself,” she said.
Fatima’s aunt, Mrs. Diamond Mary, while reacting to the incident, said Fatima who was missing for some days suddenly showed up at her house and that it was in the course of interrogation that she confessed that she left home because her father was repeatedly raping her.
According to the Aunt, when Fatima’s father was confronted with the allegation, he confessed to the crime. He was arrested and taken to the Police Station at Otapete Division, Owo.
Also reacting to the development, the State FIDA Chairperson, Bar. Bola Joel, said FIDA in collaboration with the office of Her Excellency has been on the case since Wednesday January 27th when the news broke.
Bar. Joel, who said Fatima has been moved to the Government House while the matter is being closely monitored, appreciated the wife of the governor for her prompt intervention, saying that her weight will ensure that the matter is pursued until it reaches a logical end.
In his reaction, the Ondo State Police PRO, ASP Tee Leo Ikoro, said the case is under investigation. He added that the man who had earlier absconded after being released on bail had been rearrested and the case would be transferred to the State CID in Akure.
Mr. Ikoro assured the people that the case will not be swept under the carpet and enjoined every stakeholder to keep contributing their quota in establishing a crime free environment.
