The Delta State Police Command has arrested 30 suspects for alleged rape and defilement.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said on Friday that only four of the suspects were arrested for rape.

“The worst part of it is that, out of 30 suspects, only four of them are rape cases; the others are defilement. 60-year-old men having sex with underage children between four and 14 years old,” Mr Edafe said in a video on X.

Mr Edafe described the figure as alarming, noting that the command receives at least four cases of rape and defilement daily.

The 60-year-old suspect, who identified himself as Sunshine, denied defiling a 13-year-old girl, and claimed the parents of the child had requested that the case be withdrawn.

Another suspect, identified as Victor, 50, confessed to defiling a 16-year-old girl, while another 50-year-old suspect, Steven Sunday, confessed to raping a 20-year-old girl.

A 43-year-old suspect confessed to defiling an eight-year-old girl, while a 48-year-old suspect admitted defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Also, a 40-year-old said he defiled a 12-year-old girl, and a 53-year-old confessed to defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Edafe urged residents, particularly traditional rulers, to speak to their people against the menace, because most of the cases happen in the rural areas.

“Traditional rulers, this message is to you, please, talk to your people, because we’ve come to realise that these cases of defilement and rape are largely common in the rural areas, among the less educated ones,” he advised.

Mr Edafe also condemned parents applying to court for withdrawal of rape and defilement cases after allegedly collecting money from suspects.