A 71-year-old man, Richard Odiwe, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old primary six pupil in the Agbado Crossing area of Ogun State.
Odiwe who is reported to be physically challenged, took advantage of the girl after she fled from home where she lives with her grandmother after her uncle wanted to punish her for her unruly behaviour.
Odiwe allegedly took her into his home and harboured her, after which he repeatedly raped her.
On interrogation, the girl said that it was not the first the man had been having sex with her, narrating that he started sleeping with her in 2013 when she was 10-years-old and would give her money anytime he defiled her.
“He has been having sex with me for a long time. My friends and I would go to beg him for money. He would give us N50 or N200 at times; have sex with us and warn us not to tell anybody.
This time, my sister told me that my uncle wanted to beat me. Out of fear, I fled home and headed for Baba’s house.
I met his daughter in the living room, mopping the floor. I went into the inner room. While the daughter was still busy with domestic chores, he had sex with me.”
Odiwe, also confessed to having sex with the girl only once, but blamed the devil for leading him into the temptation.
“She and other children in the area would come to me, begging for money. They helped me to wash my clothes because I am incapacitated.
On Tuesday, I saw her in my house and she said her uncle wanted to beat her. I wanted to take her back home, but she refused.
To be frank because I don’t want to tell lies, she started being funny and pestering me at night. I had sex with her once. The three of us slept on the same mattress, although my daughter was fast asleep then.”