Benue State government has stepped into the case of a minor who was raped and impregnated after she put to bed with the aim of catering for their needs.
The minor, a 10-year-old (names withheld) delivered her baby, on Sunday, through a Caesarean Section at the Foundation Memorial Hospital in Makurdi.
Speaking on behalf of government at the hospital premises, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi told journalists that they were at the hospital to take over the case as well as take care of both mother and child.
Represented by the Director of Child Development in the Ministry, Mrs. Ann Yaji, the Commissioner thanked the hospital management for accepting her when she was brought to the hospital, as well as the Civil Society Organization for facilitating her admission.
She said the Benue State government was passionate about the vulnerable children and would take care of her like they have been doing with others.
“We are not here to displace the CSOs that have made so much efforts but from today, we are taking over,” she said, just as she handed over to the hospital two nannies who would be taking care of the girl and her baby on shift basis.
She stated that the boy responsible for the pregnancy had been traced and was now in police custody.
The Medical Director of Foundation Hospital, where the girl delivered, Dr. Ijiko Michael said mother and child were in good condition.
He thanked the state government for taking over the upkeep of the girl and advised that people should exercise restraint on their visits to the hospital to avoid putting both mother and child at any risk.
Dr. Ijiko, who said the issue was beyond the girl, therefore pleaded with government not to fail in its duties towards the girl.
“There are issues of rehabilitation, psychosocial issues among others. The system has not done justice to her. She has been out of school and needs care and protection. We need to take care of our people especially the vulnerable” he added.
A humanitarian and Civil Society activist who facilitated the admission of the minor into the hospital, Ukan Kurugh, appreciated the state government for stepping in and taking over the case.
“I want to say a big kudos to the state government. That is what a responsible government should do. The first lady through her NGO and the commissioner for women affairs have been very passionate about cases like this. So I want to thank them for this gesture,” he said.
Ukan Kurugh, who noted that the boy responsible was in police custody said “we are waiting for the police to conclude their investigation, but he will have to face the law”.
The next Edition gathered that the minor, a 10 year old girl, was living with an uncle when she was impregnated. A source closed to the family narated that when the uncle noticed she was pregnant, he married her out to an elderly man without her consent.
The source who pleaded to remain anymous said the girl however returned home to stay with the uncle because she didn’t like the man.
Our correspondent also gathered that the minor had lost her father leaving only the poor mother who lives in a village. She has however not visited her daughter as at the time of visit at the hospital.
