One of the prized model secondary schools in Imo state noted for academic excellence and discipline the Federal Government Girls College, Owerri is enmeshed in alleged immorality as a rape scandal is rocking the school even as some female youth corp members serving at Awo Omama comprehensive secondary school have called it quits from the school premises over incessant rape incidents.
In what could be described as an abominable act, a security officer in Federal Girls College Mr Amadi Joseph, a middle aged man from Ngor Okpala LGA is at the centre of controversy over an indecent act bothering on defilement and raping of a minor.
Mr Joseph who is a staff of the Federal Government owned school is being accused by a co-worker of allegedly having canal knowledge of a six-year old girl (names withheld) without her consent.
Narrating how the incident happened, the mother of the victim, Mrs Favour in an emotion laden voice told Trumpeta how the randy man who is reported to be a lover of everything in skirt lured her daughter into the illicit act that earned the little Chinaza a sexually transmitted Disease (STD) called staphylococcus aureus.
Mrs Opara who is also a security officer in the school said that she usually comes to work at the school with the little Chinaza until sometime in April 2013 when she came with the daughter but left her at another security gate office for other assignments.
On her return, she said she noticed that the minor was crying and showing signs of pains while walking which prompted her to inquire what was wrong. The little girl there and then pointed accusing fingers at the suspect, Mr Joseph and on close examination of her private part, she observed blood stains and injuries around the region which prompted her to raise alarm.
She averred that instead of the school authority to condemn the unholy act by properly investigating the matter with a view to giving appropriate punishment, she became a target for victimization for complaining.
Mrs Opara further disclosed that when she requested for the treatment of her helpless child, the school Principal Mrs Efuobi threatened to sack her, if she continues to expose the alleged rape which is a dent and a negative story against the school. She alleged that her salaries were consequently withheld basically to deny her resources for making any case or exposing the school to the outside community.
However, for the health of her child Mrs Opara disclosed that she reported the matter to the welfare department in Imo state and was charged the sum of N200,000 for the treatment of the girl, while the school shielded the alleged culprit. Instead FGCC asked her to withdraw the matter from the welfare before the school will delve into the matter.
According to the aggrieved woman, after waiting for several weeks without hearing from the management, she approached the principal, Mrs Efuobi, who referred her to the vice Principal Mr Agbo who also shifted the responsibility to another senior management staff. On realizing that the school management was playing trick and lip service to the matter and unwilling to undertake thorough investigation.
She decided to take the case to the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs. In a complaint letter dated 5th October, 2013 which reads in part “I have to categorically state that my daughter aged six was defiled by the security official by name Joseph Amadi. This case has already been reported to the school authority for an appropriate action against the issue of child abuse but it seems the school authority has decided to sweep it under the carpet to protect one of their own as well as protect the image of the school or Institution at the detriment of young ones who may continue to fall victim to this wicked act”
The letter went further to reveal that “I also wish to intimate you that this is not the first time it has happened, and those times it happened the school treated such issues with levity and that is the reason I seek justice from your office”
Available medical report and laboratory test from FMC dated 26/4/13 showed that the victim, Chinaza Okafor is a victim of sexual assault which yielded heavy growth of staphylococcus aureus after 48hrs of incubation at 37.c
When Trumpeta called at the school on several occasions, it learnt Mr Joseph Amadi had closed for the day However our Reporters spoke with the vice principal, Mr Agbo who opined that he was not in a position to comment or respond to the issue, as the principal, Mrs Efuobi was not on seat.
And when a request was made for the principal’s telephone number, the vice principal who was on seat declined making it available to the crew.
In a related development, female corpers and their male counterparts serving at Awo Omamma comprehensive secondary school, Awo Omamma in Oru East LGA have deserted the corpers lodge located in the area over sexual harassments and assault meted to their female colleagues.
Trumpeta learnt that last Sunday night, unknown hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons held the corpers and raped some of where the female occupants.
Angered over the sexual harassment, the victim who have gone to hospital for treatment have packed out their belongings and deserted the corpers lodge.
