Authorities in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria, are seeking public advice after an unusual case involving an 18-year-old apprentice who has allegedly impregnated ten girls within a five-month period.
The state’s Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, brought the matter to public attention in a live social media broadcast on Wednesday.
According to Ms. Obinabo, the young man was initially placed as an apprentice under a master tradesman. However, within three months, he reportedly impregnated both his boss’s daughter and a salesgirl working for the business, leading to his dismissal.
The situation reportedly escalated after the apprentice returned to his village. Ms. Obinabo stated that in the subsequent two months, he allegedly impregnated a further eight girls in the community.
The Commissioner revealed that the young man’s mother had approached her office seeking help. Ms. Obinabo quoted the mother as saying, “Anytime I see a girl coming towards our house nowadays, my heart would jump, please, I need help.”
Ms. Obinabo admitted the case was beyond her usual capacity and appealed to the public for solutions, even questioning if there might be a “spiritual” element to the situation.
She recounted asking the young man how he managed to convince the girls. “I asked the boy the magic he uses in luring the girls to bed, but he told me he always tells them that he loves them and would like to marry them any time he acquires wealth,” Ms. Obinabo explained.
The Commissioner did not disclose the names of the apprentice, his mother, or their community, but emphasised the urgency of finding a resolution due to the boy’s age and the significant number of pregnancies involved. She has called on the public to offer suggestions on how to address this complex situation.
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