Mechanic rapes, impregnates 12-yr-old pupil, flees from home

An auto technician, simply identified as Victor, has been accused of raping a minor, 12-year-old Cheta Igwe.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect, who is now at large, allegedly drugged the minor before having carnal knowledge of her.
A source told our correspondent that Victor had lured the minor into his one-room apartment before he drugged her for the illicit act.
The rape, said to have been confirmed by a doctor, has allegedly resulted in 15 weeks pregnancy for the primary 6 pupil.
Following the development, the family of the victim, who resides at Mafoluku Oshodi, Lagos, has raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the suspect, as all efforts to find him have been futile.
Also, the victim has since been withdrawn from school, owing to her condition.
The victim’s brother in-law, Mr. Chuks Ogodo, said efforts to trace the suspect had been futile since the incident occurred.
He said he and some police officers had visited the residence where Victor was living, but another tenant was now occupying the apartment.
Ogodo added that the search had also taken them to the house of a friend of the suspect (names withheld) within the neighbourhood.
He said, “We have searched everywhere for the man (Victor), but he is nowhere to be found. The police went to the house where he raped and impregnated Cheta, but on getting there, it was another tenant that was found in the apartment.
“We also went to the house of one of his friends, but we could not get him also. Her (victim’s) sister, who happens to be my wife, is very worried about the situation. The pressure is more on her because she brought her (Cheta) to Lagos from the village.”
Ogodo said tests were being run to ascertain the health condition of the girl.
Meanwhile, preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the victim was not “fully aware” of the identity of the suspect, adding that response by the victim suggested the suspect might have drugged her before allegedly raping her.
In her reaction, Cheta’s sister, Mrs. Ellen Ogodo, described the development as “unfortunate and disappointing.”
She regretted that all the efforts she made to prevent such an occurrence proved abortive.
“I always monitored her. I ensured that she did not engage in anything that would expose her to such a thing. I know that teenage pregnancy is on the increase. Therefore, I always ensured that I did everything possible to prevent it. I am so disappointed,” she said.
The mother of the victim, however, has asked that her daughter be brought back to the village.