19-year-old seeks mercy for father despite allegations of years of sexual abuse

A 19-year-old woman, identified as Miss Ugo to protect her identity, has accused her father of sexually abusing her over several years but says she doesn’t want him sent to prison because of concerns about the impact of his incarceration on the family.

Ugo alleged that her 43-year-old father, Uche Didie, a native of Delta State, first sexually assaulted her in 2019 when she was 12 years old. She claimed the alleged abuse continued periodically until September 6, 2026, when she finally disclosed the matter to someone outside the family.

The young woman, who recently completed her secondary education, lives with her parents in Opeloyeru, Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

According to her account, she decided to speak out because she wanted the alleged abuse to stop, but said she was conflicted about the possible consequences for her father and the rest of the family.

Alleged abuse

Ugo alleged that her father forced himself on her when the abuse began and subsequently warned her against telling anyone.

She claimed he threatened to beat her if she disclosed the alleged abuse and sometimes gave her gifts.

According to her, the incidents occurred approximately once or twice a month over several years.

Ugo said she had previously told her mother about the alleged abuse, after which her mother confronted Didie. She claimed, however, that her father denied the allegations.

She eventually confided in a close friend, who she said is the son of the family’s pastor. The friend reportedly informed his father, leading to the matter being brought to the attention of authorities.

Father arrested

Following the disclosure, members of the Oodua People’s Congress reportedly arrested Didie and handed him over to the Police Tactical Unit in Araro, Ikorodu.

He was subsequently transferred to the Gender Unit, headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Oluwatoyin Kazeem, for further investigation.

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Ugo said she wanted the alleged abuse to end and did not intend to continue living with her parents.

She disclosed that she planned to stay either with her grandmother in Agege or her aunt in Egbeda.

Despite the alleged abuse, Ugo repeatedly expressed concern about her father’s possible imprisonment.

“I don’t want my father sent to prison,” she reportedly said, explaining that she feared his incarceration could have serious consequences for the family.

Ugo is the second of three children in the family, comprising two girls and a boy.

Father gives different account

During questioning by OPC members, Didie reportedly gave a different account of the circumstances surrounding the allegations.

He allegedly claimed that the inappropriate relationship with his daughter began only in 2026 and maintained that he had not gone further before his wife confronted him.

Didie also reportedly attributed his actions to the influence of an unnamed man, claiming that the individual had told him that some people intended to “use” his daughter.

His account, however, contrasts sharply with his daughter’s allegation that the abuse began in 2019, when she was 12.

Investigation ongoing

The allegations have not been established in court, and Didie remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations, including the timeline of the reported incidents and other evidence that may be relevant to the case.

The matter also highlights the difficult position faced by survivors of alleged sexual abuse within families, where fear, threats, emotional attachment and concerns about the consequences for other family members can delay disclosure.

For Ugo, the immediate priority, according to her account, is to bring the alleged abuse to an end while finding a safe alternative living arrangement away from her parents.

The case remains subject to police investigation and, if charges are filed, determination by a competent court