The head of the Igala Community in Lagos, Muhammed Salifu, has been accused of defiling a teenager, impregnating her and leaving her with complications that allegedly damaged her womb.
The teenager, whose identity is being withheld, was born in January 2008. Her mother, Elizabeth Yakubu, alleged that Salifu, 58, first abused her daughter in December 2023 after offering to assist her with tailoring apprenticeship.
According to the mother, the teenager was taken to a hotel in the Ojota area of Lagos, where Salifu allegedly locked her in a room and forced himself on her. She said the chief subsequently threatened the girl against disclosing what happened.
Yakubu further alleged that Salifu later invited the teenager to help with household chores ahead of his coronation ceremony and subsequently lodged her in a hotel apartment, where he allegedly assaulted her again in the early hours of December 27, 2023.
The teenager later became pregnant, prompting the family to confront Salifu. According to a petition submitted to the police, the chief initially denied responsibility but later accepted paternity after the pregnancy was reportedly confirmed at a hospital.
The family alleged that Salifu subsequently offered N50,000 to facilitate an abortion, but the teenager’s mother rejected the proposal, citing concerns for her daughter’s safety.
The family said they continued to care for the teenager throughout the pregnancy, reportedly selling some of their belongings to meet her needs.
The teenager eventually underwent a Caesarean section during childbirth. The newborn reportedly developed complications and died after seven days.
Her mother further alleged that complications arising during the delivery left her daughter with a damaged womb and a persistently swollen abdomen.
The family said the ordeal was compounded by the death of the teenager’s father, who they attributed to the stress and difficulties surrounding the situation.
Seeking justice, the family reported the matter to the police and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.
The agency subsequently referred the case to the Lagos State Police Command, describing the allegations as potentially constituting offences including defilement and indecent treatment of a child under relevant Lagos State laws.
Police sources said the case remains under investigation and that efforts to arrest Salifu have so far been unsuccessful. The suspect is reportedly still at large.
Salifu, however, denied the allegations. He claimed the matter was linked to a dispute over leadership of the Igala Community in Lagos.
He also said he had intended to marry the girl and support her education, questioning why the family waited until 2026 to report the incident.
The chief further disputed the teenager’s age, claiming she was 22 at the time, while stating that he was born in 1968.
The case remains under investigation, with the police continuing efforts to locate the suspect.