The Edo State Government has confirmed that a cleric and the paternal aunt of a 16-year-old secondary school student are in police custody over alleged sexual abuse and defilement that resulted in pregnancy.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed this in Benin on Thursday while giving an update on the case.
Abdallah said the aunt, who is the younger sister of the girl’s father, was earlier granted bail but was re-arrested as investigations continued.
According to the commissioner, the girl was placed in the care of her aunt after her parents separated. The aunt allegedly took the girl to the home of an Alfa for prayers and sometimes sent her alone on errands, including to repair a mobile phone.
“During some visits, the girl was allegedly made sleepy or unable to move and was then sexually assaulted by the Alfa, based on the information received,” Abdallah said.
She added that when the girl complained of feeling unwell, the aunt dismissed it as delayed menstruation or hallucination.
The abuse was uncovered after the girl’s school friends raised concerns about her health with the headmistress, who alerted the Ministry of Women Affairs. By then, Abdallah said, the girl was over five months pregnant.
The commissioner said the aunt allegedly attempted to force the girl to terminate the pregnancy, prompting the girl to contact her parents. The matter was subsequently reported to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, leading to the arrest and arraignment of both suspects.
Abdallah said the girl is currently in a government shelter where arrangements are being made for her to complete the pregnancy under supervision. Options for the baby after delivery, including adoption, are being considered in line with due process.
The commissioner added that the girl’s mother is making arrangements to relocate her to Lagos after delivery to continue her education.
The ministry said it recorded more than 70 cases of incestuous defilement between January and July 2026, with fathers allegedly responsible for about 50 per cent. Victims were aged between two and 10 years.
The government said it continues to provide psychosocial support, counselling and legal referral for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
