…State also records one of Nigeria’s lowest maternal mortality rates
By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA — The Abia State Government says it has secured what it described as the fastest rape convictions within Nigeria’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) network, with two child defilement cases ending in prison sentences of 30 and 10 years.
The government also announced that Abia recorded one of the country’s lowest maternal mortality rates in the first quarter of 2026.
Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, and Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting.
Mrs. Felix said one of the convicts, a 35-year-old man from Akwa Ibom residing in Aba, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for defiling a five-year-old girl from Imo State.
According to her, the suspect fled to Nasarawa State after the incident gained attention on social media but was tracked down by the police, returned to Abia and convicted on the day his trial commenced on July 9.
She added that another 32-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of defiling a 13-year-old girl.
Felix said the convictions reflected Governor Alex Otti’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence.
She disclosed that convicted sex offenders would be entered into the state’s Sex Offenders Register, domiciled at the Ministry of Justice.
“Our children are the future of Abia State, and we will protect them at all costs,” she said.
The commissioner explained that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, inaugurated on February 18, provides survivors with medical treatment, forensic examinations, psychosocial support and access to justice through collaboration involving the Ministries of Health, Justice and Women Affairs, as well as the Nigeria Police Force.
Earlier, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the centre recently handled two new cases involving a 60-year-old alleged gang rape survivor and a five-year-old defilement survivor, both of whom are receiving medical and psychosocial support.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence and protecting vulnerable residents.
Kanu also said the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection supported the family of the late Lady Wendy Achumba, an indigene of Ukwa East Local Government Area who was raped and murdered in Imo State, by participating in her burial, providing financial assistance and pledging to pursue justice.
Health sector gains
The state government also announced that Abia recorded one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in Nigeria, a development it attributed to ongoing investments in the health sector.
Kanu said the achievement was highlighted during the First Quarter 2026 National Health Sector Performance Dialogue organised by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Providing further details, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said Abia recorded only one maternal death in the first quarter of 2026, the same figure recorded in the last quarter of 2025, while neonatal deaths declined from nine to seven.
He attributed the improvement to the renovation, retrofitting and functionalisation of 200 Primary Healthcare Centres under Project Ekwueme.
According to Kanu, 139 primary healthcare centres have been completed, while 50 are currently being equipped. He added that another 12 facilities would soon become operational, bringing the total number of functional primary healthcare centres to 151.
The commissioner also disclosed that more than 9,136 patients had been enrolled on the state’s Digital Health Platform across nine hospitals within the last three months.
He added that enrollment under the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme had increased from about 40,000 beneficiaries in December 2024 to 225,581 as of July 2026.
Kanu further said rehabilitation and expansion works at the Abia Specialist Hospital were nearing completion, with the facility being equipped with digital health and telemedicine infrastructure ahead of commissioning.
Prof. Uche also disclosed that Abia is leading a four-state initiative involving Akwa Ibom, Delta and Anambra to digitise childhood immunisation records.
He said every child would receive a unique vaccination tracking number linked to a digital database and geospatial mapping system to improve monitoring of immunisation coverage and disease surveillance.
According to him, the project is being implemented in partnership with the Gates Foundation and is expected to serve as a model for other states.
The government also advised residents to observe proper food hygiene and safe water practices to prevent food poisoning.
Kanu added that the state had no reported cases of Mpox, COVID-19, Lassa fever, Ebola, Yellow Fever, Cholera or Rabies.
