295 
A 12-year-old girl has been assaulted by her aunt for “stealing” her garri and fish in their family compound in Isiokolo, Ethiope East council of Delta State.
The aunt, identified as Mercy Oba, was said to have walked in on the young girl in her room as she picked the food items, and pounced on her.
The girl’s cries were said to have attracted her visually-impaired mother who pleaded with her sister to cease the beating.
The suspect reportedly attacked her sister, then shoved a stick and pepper into the 12-year-old’s private parts.
A rights activist, Kelvin Ejumudo, who got wind of the matter, led other colleagues to the scene to rescue the girl.
Narrating the incident to newsmen, Ejumudo said, “Mercy Oba is the sister to the blind woman. The blind woman’s daughter went to her room and took garri and fish. When the auntie met her in the room and asked ‘why are you stealing my food’? Igho said they (herself and mother) were hungry.
“She started beating the little girl. The blind mother managed to find her way down and pleaded for her to leave Igho, but she started to beat her too. The next thing, she carried the little girl to her room, put pepper in her private part and drove a stick into her vagina.
“People came and were holding her, but she threw their load outside, saying that they will no longer stay in the house. The next thing, she said she will kill them and nothing will happen.
“We got her arrested. She was detained in our presence and medical care was given to the girl and her blind mother”.
According to him, the doctor reported that the girl’s hymen has been broken because of the force the auntie used in driving the stick into her private parts.
He added that the matter will be charged to court today.
Police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the incident yesterday.
