By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

A 41-year-old man, Endurance Ime, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

He was convicted and sentenced by the Family Court II, presided over by Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu, on Tuesday.

The conviction was secured by the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, BRCI, a non-governmental organisation protecting the rights of children and women.

Commenting on the judgment, James Ibor, Esq., Principal Counsel of BRCI, lauded all the parties involved for ensuring the victim gets justice.

“We express our sincere appreciation to the Nigerian Army (13 Brigade, Calabar), the Nigeria Police Force, Cross River State, the Honourable Attorney-General of Cross River State, Etubom Ededem Ani,.

“We also commend the staff and volunteers of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative for the invaluable support they provided to the investigators and the child throughout the course of this case.

“We also extend our gratitude to the Cross River State Government for its unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring their safety,” Ibor said

This is the sixth conviction secured by BRCI in the last six months for rape cases in the state.