Five men defile 13-year-old girl, family demands justice in Garissa

The family of a 13-year-old girl is seeking justice following the defilement of their daughter in Garissa.

A gang of five accosted the girl on Friday evening as she was coming back from a shop.

When she resisted the group, the men grabbed and bundled her in a vehicle before speeding off.

Speaking to the press at the police station on Saturday, the standard six pupil who was visibly tired, shocked and frightened narrated her ordeal in the hands of the defilers.

“I had just bought milk at 6:20 pm from a shop that is not very far from our home when a vehicle slowed down as it come near me," she said.

"The occupants  lowered down the mirrors. One of them proceeded to  great me and I responded."

She says after some seconds, four men come out of the same vehicle grabbed and bundled her.

"I even left my shoes behind. They took me to the bush and ordered me to remove my clothes, and when I tried to resist they threatened to kill me," she said.

"They defiled me in turns before leaving me behind."

She says that a good Samaritan come later with a vehicle and rescued her before interrogating her.

"I explained to him what had happened  and he picked me and took me home," she said.

She said the defilers were people well known to her.

The girl’s mother who was too overwhelmed by the pain her daughter went through could not speak.

The girl’s aunt said all she wants was justice to her nephew.

The family members expressed anger saying that the perpetrators must be brought to book and be subjected to the rule of law.

Galmagala MCA Yusuf Omar said he was disappointed and angry at people defiling children in the society.

“I am a very angry man and parent as a stand here today. I can't imagine five men doing such a beastly act to such a young girl like this," Omar said.

"It's not only shameful but unthinkable. This individuals must be apprehended and be taken to court."

She said  incidents were on the rice in the town and called on the police to move with speed and enhance patrols.

Another family member said they were angry at the system.

“We the Somalis have for a very long time abused this system of solving issues commonly referred to as ‘Maslah’. Regrettably, the victim is the one who ends up not getting justice. I want to appeal to our elders to do away with this traditional system which is very retrogressive,” he said.

The police refused to speak to the media on the matter.

But a senior officer confirmed that the incident had been reported at the station and a medical report from a doctor had confirmed the claims.

He said that one person has already been arrested with the car that was allegedly used by the defilers already impounded by the police.