Police in Ondo State have arrested a 49-year-old man, Azeez Lamidi, for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl multiple times and forcing her to take drugs to terminate a pregnancy.

The suspect, a resident of Ogbagi-Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area, was detained on October 17 following a report by the victim’s father. The girl had been rushed to a local clinic on October 15 after experiencing severe bleeding while attempting to use the toilet at home.

Medical examination confirmed she had undergone a drug-induced abortion, with complications that required urgent treatment. She remains under observation.

According to the Ondo State Police Command, the victim told officers that Lamidi began assaulting her earlier this year when she was alone at home or running errands. The abuse reportedly took place in secluded areas near their neighborhood, including an abandoned shed.

When she informed Lamidi that she was pregnant, estimated at 12 weeks, he allegedly gave her pills and instructed her to take them in secret. The drugs caused intense cramping and heavy bleeding.

Police spokesperson SP Olayinka Ayanlade said Lamidi was arrested at his residence shortly after the report was filed. Items recovered included remnants of drug packaging and blood-stained clothing.

During interrogation, Lamidi initially denied the allegations but later admitted to the sexual encounters and providing the drugs, claiming he obtained them from a herbalist in a nearby market.

He has been charged under Sections 31 and 218 of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, 2021, which address defilement of a minor and causing grievous harm through unsafe abortion. Conviction carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment.

The case has drawn sharp reactions in Ogbagi-Akoko, a rural farming community. Local leaders and women’s groups held a protest outside the police station, demanding stronger protection for children and stricter enforcement of child rights laws.

Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olawale said the command is working with the Ministry of Women Affairs to provide counseling for the victim and has deployed female officers to handle sensitive cases.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in Akure Magistrate Court on October 25.

Ondo State has recorded at least 15 cases of defilement involving minors under 15 in the past six months, with rural areas particularly affected due to limited access to education, understaffed police units, and cultural barriers to reporting.

Child rights advocates say the incident highlights the dangers of unregulated abortifacients and the need for mandatory sex education and community-based child protection systems

Source: Read more at punchng.com