‘Impregnated twice’ — Janet Afolabi laments over ‘sexual assault’ of disabled teenager

Janet Afolabi, the queen of Apomu, has lamented how a teenager, reportedly suffering from mental disorder, was impregnated twice by different men within two years.

In a statement, Afolabi said Labake was first impregnated in 2020 by an unknown person who took advantage of her condition and disappeared thereafter.

“The first time l saw her was in October 2020 when she strayed into my event. She was being dragged out by security men when she caught the attention of Kafayat Oyetola, Osun state first lady, who was my guest,” the queen said.

She said the governor’s wife took Labake to Osogbo, the Osun capital, for rehabilitation until she gave birth.

Two years down the line, the queen said she was informed of Labake’s presence at the palace gate on November 3 where she noticed the girl was pregnant and in pain.

Afolabi said interrogation revealed that Labake was impregnated by a man simply identified as “operator”, but who was nowhere to be found.

“On Thursday, November 3, l was told Labake was at the Palace gate. I thought it was her usual visit for support. I asked my staff to take some things to her. He came back with a paper and said Labake was crying profusely,” she said.

“The paper was the scan result which showed, among other things, that she had been due since October 24 and the baby’s breech position in her womb posed great danger to her life. The baby’s head was up instead of down. The ideal position for birth is head down.

“I asked security to let her in. When l saw her, l didn’t need to be told that she was in great pain. I called Julius Edet and Moses Bello (both members of the medical team l set up for my project ‘Initiative To Stop Teenage Pregnancy’) to come to the Palace.

“They took her to the health centre. After payment was made for registration and tests, the officials said there was no doctor to attend to her.

“She was taken to another health centre. The matron spoke to me. She said Labake’s condition was beyond them. She advised that Labake be taken to a private hospital or General Hospital, Oluyoro, in Ibadan because the only way she could give birth was through operation.

“To the glory of Almighty God, the operation was successful. She delivered a baby boy. The mother and child are alive.”

The queen, who is also the founder of ‘Initiative to Stop Teenage Pregnancy’, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on curbing teenage pregnancy in the community, said she would rehabilitate, provide shelter, and skill empowerment for the teenager.

She thanked Goke Odetunde, chairman of Isokan LGA in Osun state, as well as other persons who contributed towards ensuring the safety of the teenager and her child.

“I want to appeal to the men who keep taking advantage of Labake’s mental condition to sexually harass/abuse/impregnate her to desist,” the queen added.

“If she were your sister or daughter, l do not think you will be happy if someone does that to her. Most likely, you would describe such action as a man’s inhumanity to a vulnerable teenage girl.”