The Edo State Government has disclosed that more than 70 cases of child defilement were recorded across the state between January and July 2026, with about 50 per cent of the victims allegedly abused by their fathers.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed this on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
According to the commissioner, the children allegedly abused by their fathers were between the ages of two and 10.
“Mostly, 50 per cent are abused by their own fathers, with the victims ranging from two to 10 years,” Abdallah said.
She disclosed that one of the cases currently being handled by the state involved a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly impregnated by her father and is now eight months pregnant.
The commissioner said the case was brought to the attention of the authorities by a neighbour.
According to her, the girl initially told officials that she had lost her father and pleaded with them not to arrest him, while withholding information about his whereabouts.
Abdallah, however, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens and ensuring that survivors receive the necessary support.
She said the government was focused on ensuring that survivors were not only heard but adequately supported, while women were provided with opportunities for economic empowerment and social protection programmes produced measurable results.
