Lagos hunter arrested over alleged serial defilement of minor

A member of the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service, Joseph Agbo, has been arrested in Lagos State over allegations of serial defilement of a 14-year-old girl in his community.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Sunday that the arrest was carried out by operatives of the Iju Ishaga (Red House) Division of the Lagos State Police Command following a report and preliminary investigation by the Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network.

According to ACVPN, the group acted after receiving a complaint from the victim’s mother and conducting an initial inquiry into the allegations.

The organisation said its representatives interviewed the survivor, who made a series of allegations against the suspect.

In a statement on Sunday, ACVPN said, “Our attention was drawn to the case, and we carried out a preliminary investigation before alerting the police, who promptly effected the arrest.”

The suspect, a 45-year-old officer of the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service and a senior inspector at the Ojokoro Command, is alleged to have taken advantage of periods when the victim’s mother was away from home.

The survivor alleged that the suspect lured her into his apartment on different occasions and threatened her to prevent her from speaking out.

 “He told me not to tell anyone or I would die and sometimes gave me money after the incidents,” the survivor said.

ACVPN said the case involved repeated incidents and urged the authorities to ensure a full investigation and prosecution.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the case had been transferred to the Gender Unit at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja for further investigation.

Similarly, the statement noted that the survivor had also been taken to a Lagos State-approved Sexual Assault Referral Centre for medical care and psychosocial support.

ACVPN said it would continue to monitor the case as investigations progress, commending the officer-in-charge of the Gender Unit, ACP Toyin Kazeem, for the professional handling of the matter.

The organisation stressed the importance of accountability in cases involving sexual abuse of minors and urged continued vigilance in reporting such incidents.

Confirming the incident during an interview with PUNCH Metro on Sunday, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspect was in police custody.

She, however, clarified that Agbo was not a member of the Nigeria Police Force.

Adebisi said, “The suspect has been arrested, but he is not a police officer. He is with the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service.”

She added that the suspect was being held at the Gender Unit of the Ikeja Police Command for further investigation.