Man, 47, Rapes Neighbour’s 18-Month-Old Baby In Ikorodu

A 47-year-old man, Emmanuel Magbatie, has been arrested for allegedly defiling an 18-month-old girl (names withheld) in Owutu axis of Ikorodu, Lagos State. This came barely a week after the Lagos State Government sought compulsory psychiatric test for rape and other domestic violence offenders in the country.

Vanguard gathered that Magbatie, an artisan, who reside in same building as the victim’s parents, defiled the girl last week Wednesday. It was learned that the victim was rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital by her parents for treatment and to ascertain the impact of the act on her. Vanguard investigation revealed that a day after, the victim was taken to Mirabel Centre at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, for test to help the child overcome issues that may arise after.

Coordinator of Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, who confirmed the act, lamented that the mother of the victim affirmed that the perpetrator was her neighbour. She noted that the victim’s mother visited Mirabel Centre at LASUTH for appropriate medical assistance and to aid the judicial processes. Vivour-Adeniyi noted that DSVRT facilitated the transfer of the case from the Owutu Police Station to the gender desk of the state Police Command in Ikeja last Friday to expedite action on the case.

She noted that the Perpetrator would be detained to allow the completion of the test and issuance of result from Mirabel Centre, after which the case would be charged to court for proper judgment. Effort to speak to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmus proved abortive, as she neither responded to calls nor replied text messages sent to her.