Outrage as Lagos Community Chief Allegedly Defiles Teenager

​A severe wave of public indignation has met allegations leveled against the head of the Igala Community in Lagos, Muhammed Salifu, who is accused of defiling a minor, leading to a pregnancy, tragic childbirth complications, and the subsequent death of the victim’s father.

​According to a detailed report, the ordeal began in December 2023 when the 58-year-old community leader offered to assist the teenager—born January 3, 2008—with tailoring apprenticeship opportunities. Instead, the victim’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Yakubu, alleges that the suspect exploited lodging arrangements ahead of a family journey to lure and assault the young girl, threatening her with death if she disclosed the incident.

​A subsequent attack later that month reportedly resulted in a pregnancy. While family interventions initially prompted the suspect to acknowledge paternity and allegedly offer funds for termination—a proposal the family firmly rejected—the situation escalated into a severe medical and emotional crisis. The teenager later suffered life-threatening complications during delivery via caesarean section, resulting in a stillborn infant, substantial hospital debt, and permanent damage to her reproductive organs. The cumulative stress of the ordeal is also reported to have claimed the life of the victim’s father.

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​Law enforcement and advocacy groups have stepped into the matter. Petitions lodged through legal representation and formal referral letters issued by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency to the Commissioner of Police and the Ketu Police Station have highlighted potential violations of the Child Rights Law, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2015, and the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

​While police sources at the Gender Desk of the Lagos State Police Command confirm that investigations remain active and efforts are underway to locate the suspect, representatives for Salifu have contested the timeline and motives behind the accusations. Spokespersons for the community leader have suggested the claims are linked to ongoing disputes surrounding leadership politics within the community, though authorities maintain that the suspect remains at large as investigations continue.