Edo State Rescues Abused 11-Year-Old Girl, Arrests Parents

​BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has intervened swiftly to rescue an 11-year-old girl, Rejoice Godswill, who suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather in the New Benin area of Benin City.

​The rescue follows the circulation of a distressing viral video recorded by human rights activist Comrade Lucky Orukpe. The footage laid bare the horrifying extent of the child’s mistreatment, displaying fresh, visible injuries across her body. In the recording, the mother—identified as Beauty—shamelessly admitted to burning parts of the young girl’s buttocks with melted nylon cellophane, offering “stubborn behaviour” as justification for the torture.

​Prompted by the viral footage, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, mobilized state machinery to take immediate action. The Commissioner issued a directive leading to the swift arrest of both the mother and the stepfather.

​Law enforcement sources confirm that the suspects are currently detained at the New Benin Divisional Police Station. They are slated for an imminent transfer to the Edo State Police Command headquarters to undergo a comprehensive criminal investigation.

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​Meanwhile, the Ministry has ensured that young Rejoice has been safely removed from the hostile environment. She is currently sheltered in a secure state facility, where she is undergoing urgent medical evaluations, physical treatment, and professional psychosocial support to help her recover from the trauma.

​Hon. Abdallah commended Comrade Orukpe for his vigilance and unwavering dedication to defending vulnerable members of society, reiterating the state government’s zero-tolerance policy regarding child abuse and domestic violence.