Concern over growing cases of father- daughter sexual abuse in Delta

DELTA State Ministry of Justice has raised concern over growing cases of biological fathers sexually abusing their girl children, some of whom are between five and 10 years.

Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General in the ministry, Omamuzo Erebe, disclosed this yesterday, when the Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau and Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Wilfred Latimore Oghenesivbe, visited him in his office in Asaba, the state capital.

He lamented that some biological fathers who ought to protect their children and inculcate moral values in them are involved in abuses.

According to him, the ministry is handling multifaceted criminal cases of child sexual abuse, defilements, illegal human trafficking and forced labour. He said: “The ministry is handling several cases of rape in court across the state, and we are doing our best to keep these criminals and social deviants behind bars. They don’t deserve to live among law- abiding citizens. “It is very sad that biological fathers defile and rape their girl children. So, we have set up two special units to tackle the menace. It is very important that we join hands together to win the war against drug abuse, illegal migration, rape and sexual abuse. Sexual abusers can no longer escape under the amended laws.” He added that his ministry decided to set up the units mainly to prosecute offenders, and urged Delta State Orientation Bureau ( DSOB), to intensify efforts on result- oriented strategic campaigns to re- orientate the minds of citizens, especially the youths on the dangers of social vices.

While calling on DSOB to collaborate with major stakeholders to curb the menace, the solicitorgeneral lamented the rising cases of sexual abuse and defilements.

Earlier, Oghenesivbe commended the solicitorgeneral for successes recorded by the Ministry of Justice in prosecutorial matters relating to illegal migration, sexual assaults, child defilements and other criminal matters.

He promised to partner with ministries, departments and agencies as well as non- governmental organisations, saying that it will be out of place for the bureau not to be involved in any kind of campaign or sensitisation programme or exercise within Delta State.