The Rivers State Police Command has arraigned five persons, including a stepfather, a pastor and a school teacher, before a magistrate’s court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.

The incident happened at Buguma in the Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state.

In the charge PMCNO/1771C/2022 seen by our correspondent, those arraigned are Ebi Jack, 23; Fubara George, 22; Precious Wokoma, 20; Dennis Amaye Lugard, 53; and Alalibo Harry, 32.

The victim had before the matter went to court told journalists that the defendants — her stepfather, school teacher, pastor, and two youths, whom she described as area boys — had at different times sexually abused her since she was six.

The Chief Magistrate, Menenen Poromon, directed an amendment of the charge and adjourned the case for the men to take their pleas and for bail consideration.

In an interview with press, the Publicity Secretary of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Rivers State, Sophia Afoloyan, said the organisation would follow the matter to a logical conclusion.

Afoloyan said, “It is sad; it is degrading and it shows that you cannot even trust anybody.

“This little girl was allegedly raped by a teacher who was supposed to be a caregiver, defiled by the pastor of a church in Buguma and also raped by her so-called stepfather.

“This little girl has gone through a lot; she was also raped by two different hoodlums at different times. FIDA Rivers, we are bitter.

“This little girl, who is an orphan, has been made to go through this torture in the hands of men much older than her.

“A 53-year-old man is among these people. And the church where she worships, in the name of a pastor, also did this to this girl.

“The girl looks sick, tiny and malnourished. FIDA is calling on parents; please don’t bring forth children you cannot cater for.”