Monrovia – The father of 11-year-old Maima (not her real name), who was allegedly sodomized by a Nigerian car spare part dealer, Ifeanyi Henry, was attacked in his neighborhood in Monrovia by a man only identified as Benedict.
“We were all sitting at the shop watching the football game when he asked to speak to me privately. When we walked away from the shop, he asked about my daughter and told me to accept some money from the Nigerian man’s family to treat my child and compromise the case, so that the perpetrator can be released. When I refused and attempted to walk away, he pulled me back and slapped me. I immediately called the Justice Minister, who had told me to call him whenever there was a threat against me. The man was arrested,” said the victim’s father, who name we are deliberately with holding.
This action came in the wake of an SOS call launched by the family for the child to have gotten advance treatment. However, as a result of this, unknown people have called in the name of giving alms but have also tried to know the child’s whereabouts. Some have even threatened her father.
“Why would a person call me after midnight to know about my child and want to know where I live to come and find me for us to talk about helping my child? I know it is only to destroy evidence, by either killing me or my child,” he said.
The aggrieved man narrated that last week he received a call from a man claiming to be an officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) Police Service Unit (PSU), who asked him to accept money to compromise the case.
On the line, the caller disclosed a message from the suspect’s sister: “The sister of the Nigerian man has sent US$1,500 for you to take and treat your child and release her brother. I promised them to talk to you about it. This is why I am speaking to you because I am only concerned about your child’s treatment. I advise you to can take the money to start treating the little girl while we work on the other side to release the guy,” said the caller.
His respond to the caller was that he was going to think about it and get back to him the following day.
After the girl’s father dropped the line, he called the FrontPageAfrica to explain how the fellow had been harassing him to compromise the case, so he wanted a witness, especially the FPA, to be in the know of the conversation.
According to the father, his child is responding to treatment; and expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Justice and others who had been helping his child get treated.
Ifeanyi Henry, allegedly raped the minor on January 9th, 2020 in Doe Community.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement on Monday, Feb. 3, condemning the act of violence against children.
“This year 2020 The Ministry of Justice is saying zero tolerance to Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Violence, the compromising of cases, by family members of survivors and the perpetrators. Zero Tolerance,” the statement concluded.