The police command in Lagos State has detained a 52-year-old man for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl in the Ebute Metta area of the state.

The suspect, who lives in the same vicinity as the victim’s parents in Ebute Metta, allegedly lured her into his room and sexually assaulted her.

The victim’s mother reported the incident at the Yaba police division.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Fatai Tijani, directed that the case be transferred from the Yaba Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

A police source said on Saturday that the complainant reported that the girl’s father had sent her on an errand to buy bread at about 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, but she did not return as expected.

“The mother of the girl reported that her daughter was sent in the night to buy bread but failed to return promptly.

“She became worried when the girl’s whereabouts remained unknown about 20 minutes after she left home.

“The woman subsequently encountered the suspect and asked whether he had seen her daughter.

“The suspect allegedly claimed that he had sent the girl on an errand,” the source said.

He said the mother searched the suspect’s room and eventually found her daughter inside, crying.

“She discovered that the child was bleeding from her vaginal area and immediately took her away.”

The source said the victim was currently receiving medical care at a government hospital as a result of the bleeding and her traumatic experience.

According to him, the suspect was in police custody, while detectives attached to the Gender and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit were investigating the case.

He said the suspect had been properly profiled by the police and would be charged in court after the conclusion of the investigation.

 (NAN)