By Joseph Albert (Umunna TV)
A former SARS officer popularly known as Ejima has been arrested by vigilante group at Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA of Anambra State, over alleged serial defilement.
The suspect, who hails from Ebonyi State, and now in police custody, is accused of defiling five underaged children from 4 different parents and between the ages of 5 to 11.
On how they knew of the incident, father to two of the victims; who pleaded anonymity, narrated that when he got back from a church event on that day, his wife told him that the children sent to go fetch water at a nearby compound for hours were yet to be back.
He further explained that they looked for the children everywhere possible, and when their efforts yielded no result, they decided to involve the local vigilante for a wider search.
The victims father also said that it was later in the evening that his children, along with other kids in the neighborhood, came back and he started questioning them before they opened up.
He also noted that the said suspect was coming to eat at his wife’s small “mama put” food joint, playing very well with the kids, and they never for a day suspected that he will be involved in such.
Other parents of the victims who were petty traders and a tailor respectively said the suspect has been in the habit of making out with different types of girls, both young and old, but they never thought that he will be involved with kids.
They called on the government to help them get justice for their children.
Narrating their experiences, the victims explained that the suspect, Ejima, on one of the days, asked them to fetch water for him, and while they were on the task, he asked them to come into his house and rest for a while.
According to them, the suspect then asked the oldest two among them to cook for him while the youngest one was made to sleep on the bed, and the other, on a mat.
They explained that while at their given task, they saw the suspect defiling the kids who were sleeping, after which he asked the oldest ones to join in the show.
On why they didn’t alert anyone, two of the victims explained that suspect warned them not to or risk getting beaten.
Addressing the victims, the Anambra State CommiCommissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, warned that anyone found guilty of any crime would go in for it.
She insisted that once the law finds the suspect guilty of the crime leveled against him, he will not go unpunished, and warned others who are using their positions to perpetuate crime to desist forthwith or have themselves to blame.
The Women and Social Welfare CommiCommissioner also urged parents and caregivers to always be vigilant and careful with who they leave their wards with.
Meanwhile, the children have been taken to NTASI Centre at General hospital Enugwu-Ukwu, where they were examined and treated at no cost.
The suspect is currently at the state CID and the case would be charged to court, according to officials of the ministry.
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