By Daniel Ezeigwe
Anambra Governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has intervened in the alleged rape incident involving a 56-year-old pastor who brutally raped a four-year-old minor in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area.
Mrs Soludo who received official reports of the case from the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, noted that with the serious nature of the issue, she has mobilized every legal action to ensure that thorough justice is served.
According to official reports of the incident, at around 11:30am via telemedicine consultation, the staff member on duty and officer in charge of Model Primary Health Centre, Obosi, called the Senior Medical Officer of Health and Supervisor of Health in Idemili North over a case of a four-year-old girl who was alleged to have been sexually abused by a 56-year-old man, Mr Emeka Mkama who hails from Ebonyi State and is a pastor at Jesus Build the Church Mission, Obosi in Idemili North.
The incident, which was reported to have occurred on December 24, 2024, was, however, not brought to the attention of local authorities leading to poor handling of the child’s treatment.
It was when the child’s health worsened after being put through herbal medicine that her mother eventually reported to the primary health care facility.
On interrogation, she disclosed that the alleged culprit who had already been detained since last month may soon be released if any legal action is not immediately taken.
On receipt of the full details of the incident from the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike and the Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Mr Stanley Nkwoka, the governor’s wife immediately directed for closer monitoring of the child’s health with every detail of her treatment and recovery sent directly to her desk.
Mrs Soludo also directed the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare to take up the case and to also ensure that every established legal mechanism is comprehensively explored to nail the alleged culprit.
She described the incident as barbaric and heinous and assured that she would keep a close tab on the case to ensure that justice is duly served.
The governor’s wife also criticized what she described as a culture of silence to dangerous crimes, insisting that the war against domestic and sexual violence would only become easier when people begin to speak up.
She equally commended the Chairman of Idemili North, who has already taken up the costs of the child’s treatment.
Mrs Soludo further maintained her commitment to leading the fight directly to offenders, stating that Anambra State remains a red zone for gender-based violence and domestic crimes, and explained that anyone found guilty would be made to face full-scale legal consequences.
