Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have launched a manhunt for 58-year-old Muhammed Salifu, the head of the Igala community in Lagos, following allegations of defiling a teenager, leading to a pregnancy that resulted in severe medical complications.
The suspect is accused of forcing himself on the victim—who was 15 years old at the time of the initial incident in December 2023—at a hotel in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
According to the mother of the victim, Mrs. Elizabeth Yakubu, the chief offered to assist her daughter’s tailoring career before abusing their trust during a journey.
“In December of that year, we told the chief we wanted to travel to our hometown in Kogi State. He suggested that we come to his house so he could lodge us in a hotel near his house at Ojota… When my children and I arrived at the hotel, the chief asked us to wait at the reception while he took my eldest daughter upstairs to show her the room he had booked for us. None of us suspected anything,” Mrs. Yakubu said.
She added that after getting upstairs, the suspect locked the door and forced himself on her daughter, threatening to kill her if she disclosed the incident.
According to a petition submitted by the family’s legal representative, Kazeem Adebanjo, to the Ketu Police Division, the suspect subsequently offered money to terminate the resulting pregnancy.
“The suspect accepted responsibility for the pregnancy. Later in the evening of that day, the suspect paid the sum of N50,000 into our client’s bank account to arrange for the abortion of the pregnancy, but our client vehemently refused the suggestion as she values her daughter’s life,” the petition read in part.
The victim later underwent an emergency Caesarean section, but the newborn died seven days after delivery due to medical complications. The family stated that the victim also suffered severe uterine damage during the ordeal.
“My daughter’s life has never remained the same again. I want Nigerians to come to my aid and help me get justice for my daughter,” Mrs. Yakubu appealed, fighting back tears.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has formally written to the Commissioner of Police, noting that “the allegations levelled against Mr Shaibu Mohammed constitute the offences of defilement and indecent treatment of a child, contrary to the Child Rights Law, Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2015 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
Responding briefly when contacted, Salifu denied the defilement allegation and claimed the situation was triggered by community politics.
“What is causing this problem is the issue of who would be a leader or a king in Lagos State. We have opponents who are now fighting me. This was something that happened in 2023. I wanted to marry the girl, put the girl in school… She was 22, and I was born in 1968,” Salifu stated.
A police source at the Gender Desk confirmed that investigation is ongoing and efforts are being intensified to track down the suspect, stating: “The case is not yet in court. We are still looking for the suspect… He is still at large, and he appears to be dodging.”
