A 38-year-old father, Baridap Needman, has been arrested by the police in Bayelsa State for allegedly impregnating his biological daughter.
The suspect was said to have carried out the forbidden act at his residence along PDP road, Yenagoa, the State capital.
The suspect, who reportedly hails from Ogani Wily Kaira village in Ogoni, Rivers State, was arrested following a formal complaint from the State Gender Advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT).
Some concerned neighbours of the suspect were said to have tipped off the GRIT when they noticed that the victim was five months pregnant and the father was responsible for the pregnancy.
It was gathered that the arrested father had allegedly started violating the daughter since the age of 7 by fingering the girl, but the situation got worst when the victim’s mother died few years ago and the accused father replaced his deceased wife with the daughter by reportedly having sexual affairs with her constantly.
According to neighbours, while the 14-year-old girl, who is in Junior Secondary School 3 student, sleeps on the same bed with the father in their apartment, the younger brothers were sleeping on the floor.
The matter which was reported by GRIT team to Ekeki Police Division led to the arrest of the father.
The Chairperson of the GRIT, Dise Ogbise Esq, while confirming the incident to newsmen, said that the advocacy group will collaborate with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Women Affairs to offer psycho-social support to the victim and ensure that she is well taken care of until delivery.
She said: “Abortion is not an option and the two brother have been handed to their family member for proper care. The Girl will be in government custody and she needs to go back to school. Her dream is to be a musician and we will encourage her.”
Also speaking, a member of the gender advocacy team, Mrs. Mary Accrah Pekeowei, called on residents of the state to be vigilant and alert the GRIT and other gender advocacy groups in the state of any case of girl child violation or molestation in any form.
Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
