WARRI – A middle aged woman, whose name was given as Mercy Oba is currently cooling her feet in Police custody after she assaulted and allegedly defiled her 12-year old niece simply identified as Igho , for invading her room and stealing garri and fish.
The incident occured at their shared family compound in Isiokolo, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state, on Saturday.
Mercy Oba, was said to have caught the young girl as she picked the food items and pounced on her.
Igho’s cries were said to have attracted her blind mother who pleaded with her sister to cease the beatings.
However, Igho’s mother was attacked by her sister who went further to put pepper and push a stick into Igho’s vagina.
A rights activist, Kelvin Ejumudo, who got wind of the matter quickly led other colleagues to the scene to rescue the victim.
Narrating the incident , Ejumudo said, “Mercy Oba is the sister to the blind woman. The blind woman’s daughter, Igho, went to her room and took garri and fish. When the auntie met her in the room and asked ‘why are you stealing my food’? Igho said they (herself and mother) were hungry.
“She started beating the little girl. The blind mother managed to find her way down and pleaded for her to leave Igho, but she started to beat her too. The next thing, she carried the little girl to her room, put pepper in her private part and drove a stick into her vagina.
“People came and were holding her, but she threw their load outside, that they will no longer stay in the house. The next thing, she said she will kill them and nothing will happen.
“I got the distress call that she’s an igbe(river goddess/marine worshipper) woman, so she feels that her juju will protect her.
“She felt untouchable. We swung into action and got her arrested. She was detained in our presence and medical care was given to the girl and her blind mother”.
According to him, the doctor reported that the girl’s hymen has been broken because of the force the auntie used in driving the stick into her private part.
He added that the matter will be charged to a court on Monday.
Police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the incident on Sunday.
