By: Problyn J. Alpha
Fayia Ansumana, also known as “Papay,” a 15-year-old boy, is currently in police custody at the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Tankoro Police Division in Koidu City, Kono District. He is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl by penetrating her with his finger.
This information was confirmed in an interview with Inspector Paul Lebbie, Line Manager of the FSU at the Tankoro Police Division, who stated that the case is actively being investigated.
According to Inspector Lebbie, the suspect was arrested and brought to the police by the survivor’s parents, accompanied by concerned residents of the community where the incident occurred. Preliminary police investigations reveal that the suspect and the survivor are not related but live in the same compound as neighbors.
On the day of the incident, Fayia reportedly went to borrow a rubber container used for fetching water. While the young girl was assisting him, he allegedly lured her into a room, closed the door, and committed the act. The suspect has since made a statement to the police, and officers have visited the scene. Authorities are now awaiting a medical report from the Rainbow Centre to support the investigation.
Inspector Lebbie noted that despite previous successful sensitization campaigns conducted by the FSU, the Rainbow Initiative, and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, there has been a recent resurgence in sexual abuse cases involving minors. He described the trend as both unfortunate and deeply troubling.
He attributed the rise in such incidents to several factors, including neglectful parenting, where children are left unsupervised while caregivers seek daily income.
Unrestricted access to smartphones, exposing children to inappropriate content. Peer pressure among adolescents. Overcrowded living conditions, where children may witness adult behaviour they are too young to understand.
Inspector Lebbie urged Android phone users to exercise caution when recording and sharing sensitive content involving minors on social media. He emphasized that such actions could have severe psychological consequences for child survivors and may further victimize them.