In a landmark judgment, Bishop Kenneth Duke, a 52-year-old clergyman from Cross River State, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison without the option of a fine for raping a 12-year-old girl. The victim, an indigene of Ondo State, was entrusted to the Bishop’s family, who were church members.
The incident occurred on March 6, 2023, when the Bishop, who lives behind Dantata Construction Company in Dakwa, Abuja, sent his children on an errand and violently raped the girl on a chair, covering her mouth and ignoring her cries and pleas.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) dragged the Bishop to court, and he was arraigned on November 2, 2023, on a two-count charge of rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological abuse on the victim.
The court, presided over by Hon. Justice Adebiyi Osolo, found the Bishop guilty of one count of rape and sentenced him accordingly. This judgment comes on the heels of NAPTIP’s rescue of nine pregnant girls from a suspected baby factory in Abuja.
Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed gratitude to the judiciary for the landmark judgment, stating that it will serve as a deterrent to others. She emphasized that rape is a serious crime with lasting psychological effects and trauma on the victim, and urged everyone to rise against this heinous crime and ensure the protection of children.
In a related development, NAPTIP operatives rescued nine pregnant girls from a suspected baby factory in Ushafa, Abuja. The victims were recruited through an online platform and locked up in a rented apartment by a suspected trafficking agent. The raid followed a tip-off by a concerned citizen who noticed unusual activity in the area.
