Edo Police Arrest 42-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Sodomising of 12-Year-Old Boy

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man identified as Oji Okoro for allegedly sodomising (sexually abusing) a 12-year-old boy.

Okoro was among 16 suspects paraded by the command in connection with various alleged offences, including kidnapping, vandalism, staged kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

Parading the suspects, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said Okoro was arrested over what she described as an “unnatural offence,” alleging that he had defiled the 12-year-old boy.

The police did not provide further details about the alleged incident or the relationship between the suspect and the child.

What does ‘sodomy’ mean?

The word sodomy has a long and complicated history. The term derives from Sodom, the biblical city mentioned in Genesis, and historically came to be used for sexual acts regarded by particular religious and legal traditions as “unnatural.” Over the centuries, its meaning varied considerably, at different times encompassing anal intercourse, oral sex, bestiality and other non-procreative sexual acts.

The term itself entered English usage in the 14th century.

Historically, accusations of sodomy were sometimes treated as serious religious and criminal offences. In medieval Europe, for example, church authorities developed extensive prohibitions around acts described as sodomy, while secular governments increasingly introduced criminal penalties from the 12th century onward. (Encyclopedia⁠)

In England, the Buggery Act of 1533 formally criminalised certain acts described as “buggery,” making them punishable by death at the time. English legal traditions later influenced laws in several territories under British colonial rule.

Sodomy and the protection of children

While the historical use of the word has encompassed consensual sexual conduct between adults in some legal systems, allegations involving a child are fundamentally different.

A 12-year-old cannot be treated as an adult participant in a sexual relationship with a 42-year-old. Any alleged sexual act involving a child is a child-protection and criminal-justice matter, and the appropriate authorities are responsible for investigating the allegation and determining what occurred.

PUNCH reported that Okoro was paraded alongside other suspects as the Edo State Police Command continued investigations into the various alleged offences.

The police have not indicated that Okoro has been convicted of the allegation. He remains a suspect, and the allegation should therefore be distinguished from a finding of guilt.

The case also highlights the importance of safeguarding children and ensuring that allegations of sexual abuse are investigated promptly, while victims receive appropriate protection and support.