• Police in Akwa Ibom arrest man for allegedly raping his 13-year-old-daughter.
• The victim said he has been raping her since January.
• She has been taken to the hospital for checkups.

Police in Akwa Ibom, have arrested one Mr Godwin Jeremiah, a bricklayer from Ikot Udota, for allegedly raping his 13-year-old daughter.

The police from the Divisional Headquarters in Eket Local Government Area (LGA) of the state arrested the man based on information that was provided to them.

During the arrest of the suspect, Mr Sunday Digha, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), spoke to Newsmen in Eket.

According to the DPO, Jeremiah started abusing his daughter since last year and was arrested following the girl’s report.

The victim reported the incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Eket.

The DPO was followed by the President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Akwa Ibom, Mrs Emem Ette, and the wife of the Eket Local Government Chairman, Mrs Bright Archibong, to arrest the suspect.

Mr Digha said, “The suspect is currently being detained at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Eket, for further investigations.

Digha also revealed that Jeremiah’s friend, who also allegedly attempted to rape the victim, was yet to be found and the police were looking for him.

The victim, who broke down in tears while narrating her misfortune, accused her father of forcefully having sex with her mainly in the night, adding that it is almost on a daily basis.

She also said that her father’s friend, one Mr Michael, from Ikot Udoma village, also tried to rape her, however, he took off when she raised alarm.

She said, “My father forcefully abused me sexually. This occurs almost on a daily basis in spite of my resistance and the pains and injury I sustained from the ungodly act.

“Initially, I reported the case to my stepmother who confronted my father, but she was beaten and this made her flee from my father’s house,” she continued.

“When the whole thing became unbearable for me, I ran and reported to the police, which led to his first arrest, but my aunt, who did not believe my story, intervened and he was released on bail.

“After his release, I did not have any option than to return to the house and stay with my father.

“The matter grew from bad to worse. It was the darkest moment in my life. This time my father did not allow me to sleep, he forcefully abused me through out the night.

“It was coming on a daily basis. Since nobody was there to help, I decided to run away from my father’s house.

“But fate led to my meeting a compassionate mother, Mrs Bright Archibong, and the President of FIDA who rose up to fight on my behalf,” she narrated.

Responding to the accusation, Jeremiah said that his daughter, who used to sleep on the same bed with him, just resolved to run away from the house for no reason.

Archibong who also condemned the act said that the suspect’s arrest would serve as a warning to others.

She said, “It is the worst thing a person can do to a child, especially a father to his daughter. What could have caused a father to rape his daughter?”

She went on to reveal that the girl was safe and now staying at a well-known government home.

She also noted that the girl had been taken to a doctor, who had checked to ascertain her health status.

Also speaking, is Ette, who on her part warned that every rapist would not go free as they would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

She further noted that after the police had concluded its investigations, the law would takes it full course.

Ette said, “We have also had lots of cases of women defiling their sons, this is the worst that can ever happen to a child, and we want to advise parents to desist from such acts.