70 Children Aged 2 to 10 Sexually Abused in Seven Months, 50% Allegedly Victimised by Fathers — Edo Govt

The Edo State Government has reported more than 70 instances of defilement in the state from January to July 2026, with half of these cases involving the fathers of the affected minors.

This information was shared by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, on Thursday, August 13.

The commissioner explained that the minors who were victims of defilement by their fathers were aged between 2 and 10 years.

“Around 50 per cent of these cases involve abuse by the fathers of the victims, with the children affected ranging in age from 2 to 10 years.

For example, there is a young girl currently in our care who was impregnated by her father.She is 14 years old and is eight months pregnant at this moment.The case was brought to our attention by a neighbour,” she stated.

“When we asked her about her father, she told us that she had lost him and asked us not to arrest him.

Meanwhile, she is the only person who can inform us about her father's whereabouts.”

Despite this, the commissioner emphasized the state government's dedication to ensuring that vulnerable individuals are not only identified but also safeguarded.

“Survivors should not just be heard, but also supported; women should not just be trained, but given opportunities for economic growth; and social protection programs should increasingly show clear and measurable results,” she added.