Outrage In Senate Over Rape Of Two Year- Old Girl

Senators on Thursday expressed anger over alleged rape of a two year old girl, Chinwendu Onwudiwe, by a policeman in Mararaba, Nasarawa State. Mararaba, a densely populated area of Nasarawa State, is about five minutes' drive to the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja. The alleged police rapist was as one Corporal Anthony Onoja. The lawmakers voiced out their indignation over the incident after Senator Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom South) presented what was described "a touchy" motion on the "Cruelty to infants" in the country. Esuene in her lead debate noted that the country has been witnessing acts of cruelty to babies including their being kidnapped, abused and sold as commodities. She invited the Senate to note "the recent case of criminality in Mararaba area of Nasarawa State meted against a two year old baby girl (Chinwendu Onwudiwe) by no other than a policeman who is supposed to uphold the law." The lawmaker said," on October 20, 2013 the gory news that hit the airwaves as carried by Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was the sexual assault of a two year old female infant by a neigbour who is a police officer called Corporal Anthony Onoja." She noted that though the matter was reported to the police, it was yet to be taken to court. She said that Section 31 and 32 of the Child's Right Act "make this case a criminal offence which attracts life imprisonment or 14 years imprisonment depending on the nature of the abuse."