Edo Government Reports 70 Child Defilement Cases in Seven Months, Cites Fathers as Primary Offenders

BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has revealed that over 70 cases of child defilement were registered across the state between January and July 2026, with fathers identified as the perpetrators in more than half of the recorded incidents.

Speaking during a joint ministry press briefing in Benin City, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed that most victims were minors aged between two and 10 years. Highlighted among these cases was a 14-year-old girl, currently eight months pregnant, who was allegedly assaulted by her biological father.

Abdallah affirmed the state’s dedication to expanding protection mechanisms, supporting survivors, and providing social protection programs with measurable economic and rehabilitation outcomes for vulnerable groups.

Addressing broader state issues at the briefing, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, reaffirmed the government’s enforcement of the commercial motorcycle (Okada) ban within the Benin metropolis, citing heightened security concerns regarding their use in robberies and abductions.

Additionally, the Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Innocent Bello, addressed administrative delays in issuing land titles, attributing slow processing times to the frequent detection of forged application documents, including fraudulent survey plans and tax credentials.