HURIWA: Army Chief Must Take Direct Charge of Taraba Child Abuse Case, Protect Victim’s Family

PRESS STATEMENT

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA):

HURIWA: Army Chief Must Take Direct Charge of Taraba Child Abuse Case, Protect Victim’s Family

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu to take direct charge of the case involving allegations of sexual abuse and impregnation of a 13-year-old deaf and non-speaking girl, identified as Liyatu, by a serving Nigerian Army captain in Taraba State.
HURIWA says the safety and protection of the alleged victim, her baby, and members of her family must be guaranteed throughout the investigation and judicial process.
The organisation insists that the family must not be threatened, intimidated, coerced, or subjected to any form of pressure because of its decision to pursue justice.
HURIWA also demands that the accused Army officer, Captain Etim Essien, and his wife, Blessing Essien, be required, where legally appropriate, to provide enforceable undertakings guaranteeing that they will not threaten, intimidate, harass or otherwise interfere with the safety of the girl, her baby or members of her family.
The organisation says the allegations are extremely serious and must be subjected to a transparent investigation and determination by a competent court rather than being resolved through private financial settlements.
HURIWA therefore calls on the Taraba State Governor to direct the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney-General of the State to urgently review the case and commence the necessary legal process for the prosecution of the accused person, where the evidence establishes a prosecutable offence.
The organisation says the appropriate court should be allowed to determine the allegations based on evidence, due process, and the rule of law.
HURIWA Demands NHRC Investigation
HURIWA also demands the immediate suspension, pending investigation, of Barrister Ikrimah Isa, the human rights lawyer attached to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Taraba State Office, over allegations that he pressured the family of the alleged victim to accept compensation and discontinue the case.
The organisation stresses that the allegations against Isa remain allegations and must be independently investigated.
HURIWA calls on the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, to personally ensure a thorough investigation into the conduct of the NHRC lawyer and establish whether there is any basis to the allegations.
If the allegations are established after due process, HURIWA demands appropriate administrative sanctions against any official found to have acted improperly in order to protect the credibility of the Commission and deter similar conduct in future.
The organisation notes that Isa has denied the allegations, saying they are untrue and that Blessing remains under the custody of the court. HURIWA says the conflicting accounts surrounding the custody of Blessing must also be clarified through official records.
Protect the Girl, Baby, and Family
HURIWA further calls on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development to provide immediate logistical, legal, medical and welfare support to Liyatu, her baby and her family.
The organisation says the alleged victim’s age and disability make her particularly vulnerable and require the authorities to place her safety, dignity, and welfare at the centre of their response.
HURIWA says no family should be left to confront powerful institutions or individuals alone while seeking justice for an alleged crime against a vulnerable child.
The organisation also demands that all relevant evidence in the case be preserved, including medical records, court documents, police investigation materials, custody records, communications, and any audio or video evidence relevant to the allegations.
Justice Must Not Be Negotiated
HURIWA says the reported allegations of monetary offers to the family must be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate authorities.
According to reports, family sources alleged that an offer of N500,000 was made to persuade them to withdraw the case, while another source alleged that an earlier offer of N20 million had also been rejected.
HURIWA stresses that these claims have not been independently established and that those accused of making such offers should be given an opportunity to respond.
However, the organisation says any attempt to improperly interfere with the investigation or prosecution of alleged sexual abuse involving a minor must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
“Justice for a vulnerable child must never become a bargaining exercise. The girl, her baby, and her family must be protected while the competent authorities establish the facts and the courts determine the law,” HURIWA says.
HURIWA also urges the Nigerian Army to ensure that its administrative investigation into the allegations against Captain Essien is conducted transparently and independently, without interference or intimidation of witnesses.
The organisation reiterates that Captain Essien remains entitled to due process and should not be treated as guilty before the allegations are established in accordance with the law.
At the same time, HURIWA insists that the seriousness of the allegations requires decisive institutional action to protect the alleged victim and preserve the integrity of the investigation.
HURIWA, therefore, demands:
Immediate protection for Liyatu, her baby, and members of her family;
Direct oversight of the matter by the Chief of Army Staff;
A transparent investigation into the allegations against Captain Essien;
Urgent legal action by the Taraba State Ministry of Justice where the evidence supports prosecution;
Investigation by the NHRC headquarters into the allegations against its Taraba-based lawyer;
Appropriate administrative sanctions if the allegations against any NHRC official are established;
Legal, medical, and welfare support for the alleged victim and her family; and
Preservation of all evidence relevant to the case.
HURIWA says the case must be handled with the seriousness demanded by the alleged victim’s age, vulnerability, and disability.
The organisation insists that the ultimate destination of this matter must be justice through due process—not intimidation, institutional protection, or an attempt to privately negotiate away accountability.
Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA). Friday, September 18th, 2026.