A Sierra leone man has reportedly raped his 5-year-old cousin to death in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was also raping her 8-year-old sister.
According to the reports, 5-year-old-Khadijah Saccoh and her elder sister, 8, were living with their aunty and her son who was raping the two minors.
Khadijah’s parents lived separately. Their father, Mr Saccoh, lives in the United States of America while the girls live with their aunt in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The father had earlier made attempts to bring Khadijah with him to the US. He was, however, stopped by a judge on grounds that the mother did not give her consent to that.
On finding out that her son raped the girl, she hid it from the girl’s parents and the police and tried treated the girl secretly.
Unfortunately, the little girl still died. Thereafter, the woman informed the girl’s parents and requested that she buried the girl.
But the father of the girl insisted an autopsy be carried out. He maintained that he wanted to know the cause of his daughter’s death.
He then asked his family members to carry out the autopsy.
Moreover, Mr Saccor asked that the older daughter be taken for a test and the result also showed that she had been raped too.
Sierra Leone media, Cocorioko, reported that one of the family members said that ‘the motorcycle that was transporting Khadija to the hospital got involved in a gruesome accident.
“The motorcycle was transporting Khadija to the Choithram hospital for medical treatment and forensic examination.
“According to the autopsy report, the cause of death includes spinal injury, fractured wings, rape, manual strangulation (asphyxiation), bitten tongue, vaginal and anal dilatation.
According to information gathered, the girl died as a result of repetitious rape as postmortem shows.
The aunt and her rapist of a son have both been arrested. There have been calls from people seeking for justice for Kadijah with the hashtags #JusticeForKadijahSaccoh and #JusticeForKadijah.
According to a statement by the Women in the Media Sierra Leone(WIMSAL), signed by their secretary General, Marian Tina Conteh, they are also calling for justice.
“Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL)* vehemently condemns the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Freetown, which inhumane act reportedly led to her death.
“As a female media organization we are deeply saddened and we, therefore, condemn this act,” the statement read.
“We are calling on all authorities concerned to speedily launch an investigation into the matter and ensure the perpetrator(s) is brought to justice.
“WIMSAL will follow this case closely and work with other organisations to ensure justice for the girl.
“Meanwhile, we want to extend our sincere condolences to the family for this great loss,” the statement added.