TWO GENDER- BASED ASSAULT VICTIMS SECURE JUSTICE AS COURT JAILS 2 CULPRITS 40 YEARS David Maduako –Umuahia

TWO GENDER- BASED ASSAULT VICTIMS SECURE JUSTICE AS COURT JAILS 2 CULPRITS 40 YEARS

David Maduako –Umuahia

Abia State Government through her NCHEDO Sexual Assault Referral Centre, has secured justice for two minors who were sexually assaulted .

The Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu stated this in Government House Umuahia on Monday, July 13, 2026, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to the Commissioner, the rape cases which were decided on the same day were called up for hearing on 9th of July 2026 one of the cases was a cases of a 35-year-old man that defiled a 5-year-old child and was sentenced to a 10 years imprisonment as well as another case of a 32-year-old man that defiled a 13-year-old girl, and was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.

The Commissioner noted that, These are landmark convictions that indicate the Abia State Government has zero tolerance for sexual assault on women.

He informed that, in line with the citizens focus governance standards set by the Otti’s administration , the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection has continued with its implementation of the state’s framework for access to social protection support through the identification, assessment, and coordination of assistance for vulnerable citizens that require urgent medical and humanitarian support.

He added that recently, the Ministry visited and commiserated with the family of Late Wendy Achumba, an indigene of Obingwa LGA of Abia State and a nursing student that was reportedly raped and killed in Imo state.

In the area of sports, the Commissioner for information disclosed that, the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in partnership with Dreamland Football Academy, recently organised the second edition of the Abia State Dreamland Under-19 Cup Tournament, where six outstanding young footballers were scouted by foreign football partners for professional career in Europe.

He further announced that the Abia State Volleyball Team has returned to the Nigerian Volleyball Premier League after 23 years of relegation and recorded an impressive performance during the first phase of the league in Abuja, while preparations are underway for the second phase in Lagos.

Prince Kanu also revealed that Abia Angels Football Club, a female football team of the state has qualified for the Nigerian Women’s Football League Super Six for the first time in its history, describing the feat as a major milestone for women’s football in the state, with the team currently being strengthened ahead of the 2026/2027 league season.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Mrs Blessing Ngozi Felix recalled that the NCHEDO Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which was launched on February 18, 2026 to provide access to justice, psychosocial support among others, for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Abia state.

Prince Okey Kanu again said according to the reports of the quarterly performance Dialogue ,Abía state is one of the best performing state in Nigeria in maternal and Infant mortality record . He opined that this is as a result of the huge invest the state government have made in the health sector . He disclosed that apart from the 77 health Care Centres been sponsored by the world Bank , the state government is rehabilitating 200 health centres accross the state, 139 health Centres have been completed and are equipped and functional , 12 centres he said would be Commissioned soon and 55 have gotten to an advanced stage of completion.

According to him Obingwa General hospital is progressing well while enrollment of the state’s Health Insurance Scheme HIS , have increased from 40,000 in December 2024 to 225,581 in July 2026 . The Commissioner disclosed that Abia State inconjuction with Anambra and Akwa Ibom States are working out an initiative to establish a digital immunisation tracking system that would link Children’s vaccination record with other social data for improved health care performance.
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