Leadership (Abuja)
Stanley Nkwocha
11 October 2008
A confession of having stolen a neighbour's television set might be forgiven, but can one forgive the sexual abuse of one's own son and six other children of neighbours?
Yes, the story of 40-year-old Sunday Agul, an indigene of Kokona local government area of Nasarawa State, who resides in the Tudun Wada area of Maraba in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State, might sound like one made up for a film, but it is the disturbing true story of a man's sordid side, one which contravenes both the holy and civil law books. It is a direct confession from the mouth of the culprit himself.
This okada rider is said to be the children's favourite in his Tudun Wada neighbourhood, due to his generosity and benevolence. It was not known that Sunday Agul's 'kindness' had a sordid motive - to afford him the opportunity to molest little boys.
Before the Mararaba District Police Officer, Mr. Peter Adalla Dambeji, and in the presence of newsmen, the 40-year-old father of one, whose wife is away in her village and due to have a baby, confessed to having had carnal knowledge of seven male children (names withheld) in his compound, including his own son.
The children, who are aged between 7 and 11 years, are all familiar with one another, as they play football together in the neighbourhood.
Said Agul in his confession: "I usually buy a lot of interesting films, either war films or wrestling. I put on the television most times and slot in a tape, which usually attracts the kids. Sometimes, too, they come to ask to watch television.
"When they came into my house, I would invite one of them to sit on my lap, after which I usually have an erection. I then use a leather bag in place of a condom and tie my manhood, as I undress the boys and have 'contact' with them.
"When I am about to come, I use a towel to cover myself so that I do not stain or get myself dirty. I've 'met' some of them twice and some once, but on the average I would say twice with each of them."
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND's investigation revealed that after his evil act, Agul would fry eggs for the children, buy them biscuits and give them money, warning them not to divulge what he did to them to anybody. And so he continued with this evil until the lid was finally blown off.
Last week Monday, Agul was said to have bought akara (local beans cakes) from his victim's mother, insisting that the the little boy should bring the akara to his room. Not suspecting any foul play, she had sent the lad with the akara.
Unknown to Agul, the boy had confided in his elder brother what had been happening and, this time, the two boys decided to make a scene, threatening to 'kill' Agul because 'enough was enough'.
Agul's landlord, Mr. Cletus Ibrahim, whose son, aged 9, is amongst the victims, corroborated the allegations against Agul, as he also summoned the courage to confront the self-confessed paedophile.
Said Mr. Ibrahim: "I came back from work at about 8pm on the day and heard of how two boys were threatening to kill the accused. So my wife, who was at home, went to see why such underage boys were making such a threat. It was then they told of how Agul had been luring children and having carnal knowledge of them.
"I then called my son, and questioned him. It was after I finished talking with him and getting the details of Agul's very abominable act that I decided to confront him later that night."
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that Agul, when confronted, bowed his head in shame, agreeing to the allegations, while blaming it on the handiwork of the devil. He narrated how he had succeeded in defiling seven male children aged, on the average, seven years. It was the next day that the parents got together and reported the matter to the police.
If Agul thought all this while that he was having fun, he must by now have realised the trouble he is in, as this is purely a criminal case. The parents of the children are naturally worried about the health of their children, who have all been booked for urgent medical tests.
Worried about the possibility of any of the children being infected in any way, Mrs. Rebecca Monday, mother of one of the victims, narrated her ordeal: "He kept complaining of his anus, of pains and scratches. At first, I thought it was pile. I took him for a test, but they said it wasn't, until this broke out and he confessed what this wicked man had been doing to them.
"He said he would ask them to climb on his private part, after which he would have carnal knowledge of them, and then use money and gifts to buy their silence. My prayer is that my son is safe and that justice will prevail."
It was gathered that Mr. Agul married a second wife after losing his first, and she is presently heavily pregnant in the village, just as the neighbours said he was fond of sending the children on errands.
Confirming the story to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, the DPO in charge of the Mararaba police station, Mr. Peter Adalla Danbeji, who is also overseeing the food poisoning case reported by LEADERSHIP WEEKEND last week, said the accused would be immediately charged to court once investigations have been completed and a case filed.
Said he: "In an environment like ours, different characters exist. One of such is this. You can imagine the crime he has committed. We shall charge him to court immediately and get justice done."
Mr. Danbeji, whose post is being commended for its efforts at curtailing the rate of crime in the very densely populated area of Mararaba, said he and his men would leave no stone unturned to make sure that bad eggs such as Agul are weeded out from the society.
While such acts are said to be as a result of spiritual, psychological and evil problems, the seriousness of the crime cannot be understated. Incest and sodomy are grave crimes.
For now, the prayer is that none of the children got infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
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