Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a farmer in Akure, Ondo State, for impregnating his 17- year-old stepdaughter.

The convict identified as Emmanuel Ezekiel was arrested after some neighbours reported the matter to the NSCDC.

According to reports, Mr Ezekiel has been married with three children in Akwa Ibom state before relocating to Ondo state to work.

The mother of the victim moved in to live with Ezekiel alongside, her two children including the suspect’s three children.

The victim’s mother, alongside family members, have pressurized the NSCDC to release the suspect because life has been difficult for them since his arrest two weeks ago.

Confirming the incident, Ondo Spokesman of NSCDC, Olufemi Ayodeji, said plans were on to prosecute the defendant and rehabilitate the victim.

Ayodeji said: “After investigation,we later discovered that they lied about the state of the pregnancy.

“They told us that it was six months but we later got to know that it was close to nine months. That means anytime from now the girl would put to bed,” Ayodeji said.

“There is an NGO that showed interest of taking responsibility of the delivery and we have already sent the details of the girl to them because she would actually go through cesarean section and that would be done at Federal Medical Center, Owo.

“The community members and religious leaders have been coming to appeal on behalf of the suspect and presently,he is just being released on bail based on recognition while we focused on how to rehabilitate the victim but i can assure you that he is not yet released.

“We actually gave him bail because he fell ill while in custody and his state of health was deteriorating. He is expected to be reporting to our office,” he said.

“The NSCDC is not trying to bury the case. We will never do such because the investigation is still ongoing and we will get to the root of the matter and definitely the man who defiled the girl would face the wrath of the law,” he added.

Upon receiving the report, they discovered that the pregnancy was already close to nine-months and so the victim has been admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo in Ondo state.

Doctors were said to have demanded ₦80,000 for a surgical session before she could deliver her baby.