A spokesman for Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, has warned that a life sentence awaits any adult having sexual intercourse with underage children.
Edafe stated that parents and guardians who attempt to cover up incidents of child defilement will also be punished under the law.
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Edafe, in a post on X on Sunday, stated that those found concealing such crimes could face charges of aiding and abetting.
He explained that sexual intercourse with either a boy or a girl under the age of 13 is classified as defilement and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 218 of the Criminal Code.
The policeman noted that consent is irrelevant in these cases, and legal attempts to mitigate the offence through court or affidavits will not be effective.
“So going to court and swearing to an affidavit won’t work. In fact, any parent who tries to cover defilement could be charged to court for aiding and abetting,” Edafe said.
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According to UNICEF, originally called the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in full, violence against children is a pervasive problem, very close to home.
It added that in Nigeria, six out of every ten children in the country suffer one or more forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence before they reach 18. More than 70 per cent experience this violence repeatedly.
UNICEF said one in four girls and one in ten boys have experienced sexual violence.
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In May 2024, Lagos State Government revealed last month that 416 cases of varied forms of child abuse were reported in the last year.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, disclosed this at the ongoing annual ministerial press briefing to mark the first year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos.
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Giving a breakdown, he said that there were 49 reported cases of physical abuse, 14 cases of sexual abuse, 14 cases of defilement, 17 cases of child trafficking, 51 cases of abandonment and six cases of child marriage.
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