Edo Govt raises alarm over rising cases of fathers defiling female children

The Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Eugenia Abdallah, has raised the alarm over the increasing cases of fathers’ allegedly sexually abusing their female children in the state.

Abdallah disclosed that more than 72 cases of defilement were recorded in Edo state between January and July 2026, with fathers allegedly responsible for over 50 percent of the cases.

“We have recorded 72 cases of abuse of minors between January and July this year. We have prosecuted several of these cases in court.

“Fifty percent of these minors are abused by their own fathers, with the victims ranging from two to 10 years old.

“For instance, there is a little girl currently in our custody who was impregnated by her father. She is just 14 years old and is eight months pregnant as we speak,” the commissioner said.

DAILY POST reports that the commissioner spoke at a press briefing organised by the Edo State Ministry of Information and Strategy on Thursday in Benin City.

Abdallah said the 14 year’s old neighbour reported the case to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development after the father had perpetrated the act and ran away from the house.

According to her, the minor was pleading with the government not to have her father arrested, saying that she loves him.

The commissioner, however, assured that the state government was committed to ensuring that vulnerable citizens are not merely identified but protected.

She added that as part of the strategy to deal with the cases of defilement, the ministry has established and commenced operation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, in Uromi, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and other partners.

Abdallah disclosed that the facility has expanded access to coordinated, survivor-centred services outside Benin City, including psychosocial support, referrals and other forms of assistance for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

She further disclosed that the ministry is working towards the establishment of an additional Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Auchi, thereby improving the geographical spread of GBV-response services across the state.

Speaking further on the cases of child defilement, she said, “In one case involving two sisters who alleged prolonged sexual abuse, the ministry supported referral of the matter to the appropriate investigative and prosecuting authorities.

“In August 2026, the ministry also intervened in the case of an 11-year-old girl allegedly subjected to severe abuse.

“The child was placed under protective care and provided access to medical and psychosocial support, while law-enforcement authorities pursued investigation and prosecution of the suspects.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, lamented that social vices had become endemic and pervasive, disclosing that a six-year-old girl was defiled and molested before she was rescued by the state government.

Afegbua advocated stiff penalties against those molesting children in the state.