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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
A married woman, Ramati Abbas from Donga local government area of Taraba State, on Wednesday attacked and mutilated 17-year-old Miss Iwasen Terhemba, using a razor blade to disfigure her face over suspicions that her husband (Mr Abbas) has the intention to befriend her.
The guardian of Miss Terhemba, Mrs Jemila Savalla Wanga, who spoke to correspondents via phone, said one Mr Abbas, a resident of Donga, recently started harassing the underage girl on several occasions, claiming, saying that he wants to date her.
Iwasen Terhemba is one of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose parents and relatives were killed and whose villages were attacked and destroyed by herders in Donga LGA. She is being housed by a Jukun woman who picked interest in her education in Donga town.
The guardian (Jemila Savalla Wanga) disclosed that on several occasions, she stopped Abbas from his intention to harass Miss Terhemba, at which point Abbas attempted to rape the 17-year-old girl.
“A few weeks ago, I brought Iwasen Terhemba to my house. Mr Abbas, a married man, has been molesting her. He always comes around and claims he wants her, but I vehemently refuse and tell him the girl is underage, and there was a time he attempted rape on the small girl.
“His wife got informed that her husband has been coming to see Iwasen; she has been insulting and threatening the small girl. I picked up courage and took Iwasen to her. I told her that it was her husband that has been molesting the small girl.
“I informed her that the husband actually attempted to rape the little girl, and I want her to stop Abbas from his intention. Instead of taking it up with her husband, she decided to step into my house while I was away and mutilate Iwasen Terhemba’s face with a razor blade with the intention to tarnish her beauty.
Our correspondent gathered that the matter has been officially reported to the Taraba state ministry of women affairs and child development.
“We have received the report from officials of the Donga local government council here at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development. We are billed to submit the complaint and the situation to the Taraba state commissioner of police at the police headquarters by 8:am today.
“Our commissioner will not hesitate to brief you on the matter as soon as we are done with the process. I am assuring you that the person behind the crime must be apprehended for prosecution by the police,” an official from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, who is not permitted to speak to journalist told correspondents in confidence.
