58-year-old Lambert Ighodaro, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for reportedly raping a 12-year-old pupil in Benin, the state capital.

The suspect’s arrest came after the victim’s class teacher, who noticed her continuous absence from school contacted her guardians. It was gathered that during the teachers’ visit to her guardians’ house, the pupil disclosed that the suspect had been sexually abusing her. She also added that the Mr.Lambert offered her money each time he allegedly raped her.

The acting Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Joan Oviawe, who explained that the board received a complaint from the management of the school, also said the board was also investigating two other cases of alleged  sexual abuse of two girls aged 11 and eight.

“This (arrest) was after SUBEB received a report of the incident from the class teacher of the 12-year-old girl, who is a pupil in one of government’s primary schools,” she said.

Oviawe, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, also told newsmen that the state government has set up a committee to check the rate of defilement of children in the state, in a renewed effort to strengthen the Child Rights Law to address issues of sexual abuse of children.

According to her, SUBEB is concerned about the welfare of children and will continue to assist victims of rape to overcome the stigma and ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted.

“Teachers who were trained recently in the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme were trained on ways to identify children who have been abused physically and sexually.

“The state government is reviewing existing child rights law to strengthen it to combat all forms of abuse against children.”

Few weeks ago, a 40-year-old man, Abdullahi Umar, was arraigned before a Katsina State Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping three primary school pupils.

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