Residents of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State were thrown into shock in December 2025 after a 43-year-old man, identified as Kelechi Nwosu, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his seven-year-old niece.
The incident, which reportedly occurred in a residential compound in one of the communities in Isiala Mbano, came to light when neighbours noticed the child’s distressed state and raised an alarm.
Concerned community members quickly mobilised, confronted the suspect, and apprehended him before handing him over to the nearest police formation in the area.
The minor, whose name is being withheld for legal and ethical reasons, is said to be receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
According to community sources, the alleged abuse was discovered after the girl complained of pains and exhibited unusual fear each time she was asked to stay alone with her uncle.
Neighbours, already suspicious of the man’s conduct, reportedly questioned the child, who then narrated how she had been violated.
Outraged by the account, youths in the area swooped on Nwosu, restrained him, and ensured he did not escape before the arrival of law enforcement agents.
Local elders and women groups in the community have since condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation and diligent prosecution to achieve justice for the victim.
Police authorities in Imo State are expected to investigate the allegation under Nigeria’s existing child protection and sexual offences laws, which treat sexual abuse of minors as a serious felony.
Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act, 2003, which sets the framework for child protection and defines a child as any person under 18 years, criminalises sexual intercourse with a child and categorises it as rape, punishable with life imprisonment on conviction.
The Act further provides that any form of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child that does not amount to intercourse still constitutes an offence, attracting up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Imo State has domesticated child protection norms through its Child Rights Law and also operates within the Criminal Code framework applicable in southern Nigeria, which reinforces these prohibitions.
From a legal standpoint, sexual molestation of a seven-year-old is treated as defilement, and not a mere “moral” or “family” issue in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Section 218 of the Criminal Code makes unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 13 years a felony punishable by life imprisonment, with or without corporal punishment, and attempts to commit the offence attract up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
In addition, under the Child’s Rights Act, sexual intercourse with a child is a strict liability offence, meaning the offender cannot rely on defences such as alleged consent or mistaken belief as to the child’s age.
Where penetration is not proved, the law still criminalises any sexual touching, exposure, or exploitation, ensuring that offenders do not escape liability simply because the abuse did not meet the technical threshold of rape.
Imo State’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, further strengthens protection by defining minors as persons under 14 years who are not legally capable of giving consent to any form of sexual penetration.
Under such provisions, any adult who engages in sexual conduct with a minor is exposed to severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment, and courts are empowered to award compensation and mandate psychosocial support for survivors.
Where the offender is a relative, guardian, or person in a position of trust, the abuse is treated as an aggravating factor because it exploits the child’s vulnerability and breaches a duty of care.
Legal experts note that these frameworks aim not only to punish perpetrators but also to deter would-be offenders and affirm the state’s obligation to protect children from all forms of sexual violence.
Child rights advocates in Imo have consistently warned that defilement and related offences are not matters that can be “settled” at the family or community level, stressing that police and prosecutors are duty-bound to pursue such cases to their logical conclusion.
They argue that community action, such as the swift apprehension of Nwosu by residents, must be complemented by professional investigation, diligent prosecution, and survivor-centred support services if justice is to be achieved.
The case in Isiala Mbano, they say, underscores the urgent need for sustained public awareness on child sexual abuse, safe reporting mechanisms, and stricter enforcement of Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act, Criminal Code, and VAPP laws to protect minors from predators both within and outside the family circle.