A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Captain Etim Essien, has been accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl who is deaf and non-speaking, impregnating her and fathering a child with her while the minor was allegedly living under his family’s care in Taraba State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the case has attracted the intervention of the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Taraba State chapter, and other relevant authorities.
The girl, who was reportedly taken into the custody of Captain Essien’s wife, Blessing Essien, is said to be the wife’s younger step-sister.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Mrs Essien initially took custody of the girl with the stated intention of ensuring that she attended school.
However, the circumstances surrounding the girl’s stay with the family later became the subject of an investigation after allegations emerged that Captain Essien had sexual relations with the minor, resulting in her pregnancy.
The allegations are particularly disturbing because the girl was reportedly only 13 years old, deaf and non-speaking, when she became pregnant.
SaharaReporters also obtained a recording of a telephone conversation in which Mrs Essien admitted that her husband had sexual relations with her step-sister and pleaded for forgiveness, describing the matter as a family issue that would be handled by the family.
In the recording, Mrs Essien reportedly acknowledged her involvement in the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and appealed for the matter to be resolved within the family.
A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that Captain Essien had been married to Blessing Essien for several years without having a child.
According to the source, the 13-year-old girl was subsequently brought to live with the couple after Mrs Essien took responsibility for her welfare and education.
The source said that the girl was eventually sexually abused by Captain Essien and became pregnant.
“The captain is married to the girl’s stepsister. The girl was staying with them, and the captain’s wife had not given birth after several years of marriage,” the source told SaharaReporters.
The source further explained that the captain’s wife was involved in arranging circumstances that enabled her husband to have sexual relations with the minor in the hope that the girl would become pregnant and provide the couple with a child.
The source noted that the girl’s deafness and inability to speak made her particularly vulnerable.
“The girl is deaf and non-speaking,” the source said.
The source also stated that Mrs Essien attempted to conceal the girl’s pregnancy while creating the impression that she herself was pregnant.
According to the source, Mrs Essien staged circumstances to make people believe that she was carrying a pregnancy while keeping the minor away from public attention.
The allegations later came to light, leading to the intervention of government authorities and other institutions.
Mrs Essien has since been arrested and is currently being held in Jalingo, according to the sources and the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development.
She has reportedly spent more than a month in custody after being arraigned before a Magistrate Court and remanded at the correctional facility in Jalingo.
According to the source, Mrs Essien has admitted her involvement in the matter but claimed that her husband only had sexual intercourse with the girl once.
The source said Mrs Essien maintained that the pregnancy resulted from that encounter.
The girl was reportedly only 13 years old at the time she became pregnant.
SaharaReporters further gathered that the pregnancy had significant physical effects on the minor.
Sources said she developed stretch marks across her body and experienced other physical changes associated with pregnancy at such a young age.
The circumstances surrounding the girl’s delivery have also raised additional concerns.
According to sources familiar with the case, when the girl went into labour, she was not taken to a hospital.
Instead, the sources explained that she was made to deliver the baby at home, with members of the household attending to the delivery.
The baby was subsequently taken into the custody of Mrs Essien, who is now breastfeeding the child while in detention.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Mrs Mary Sinjen, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development in Taraba State, confirmed that the baby remains with Mrs Essien in prison.
“She is still with her. She is already breastfeeding the baby, which is why we did not separate them,” Sinjen told SaharaReporters.
The commissioner explained that the 13-year-old girl herself is currently staying with her parents while government authorities monitor her welfare.
“But the minor is at her parents’ house. She is still at her parents’ house, and our eyes have been on her,” she said.
Sinjen confirmed that Blessing Essien is currently in custody with the baby.
“Blessing, she is in prison with the baby,” the commissioner said.
She also disclosed that the Taraba State Government had formally written to the Nigerian Army concerning the allegations against Captain Essien.
“Actually, we have written to the Nigerian Army. The letter has been acknowledged. The letter is already with the Nigerian Army. So, I think the Army will invite the captain,” Sinjen said.
In a formal letter dated September 8, 2026, and signed by Commissioner Sinjen, the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development notified the Chief of Army Staff of the allegations involving Captain Essien.
The letter, obtained by SaharaReporters, was titled: “Notification of Alleged Sexual Abuse of a Minor Involving a Serving Officer—Captain Etim Essien.”
In the letter, the Ministry said it was formally bringing to the attention of the Chief of Army Staff “a serious case involving an allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in Taraba State,” in which Captain Essien had been identified as the alleged perpetrator.
The Ministry described the victim as a minor who is deaf and non-speaking.
It said the allegations concern sexual abuse while the child was under the care of the officer and his family.
“The Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development wishes to formally bring to your attention a serious case involving an allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in Taraba State, in which a serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Captain Etim Essien, has been identified as the alleged perpetrator,” the letter stated.
The Ministry further informed the Army that the matter had attracted the intervention of the Ministry itself, the National Human Rights Commission, Taraba State chapter, and other relevant authorities.
It also disclosed that the woman connected to the case had been arrested, arraigned before a Magistrate Court and remanded at the correctional facility in Jalingo while investigations continue.
“Following intervention, the woman allegedly connected to the case has been arrested, arraigned before a Magistrate Court and remanded at the correctional facility in Jalingo, while investigations continue,” the letter stated.
According to the Ministry, Captain Essien was believed to be attending a course at a Nigerian Army training facility in Jaji, Kaduna State, at the time of the notification.
“We understand that Captain Etim Essien is currently attending a course at the Nigerian Army training facility in Jaji, Kaduna State,” the Ministry stated.
The government therefore said it considered it necessary to formally notify the Nigerian Army so that the allegations could receive appropriate attention within the military establishment.
The Ministry asked the Nigerian Army to commence appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures, subject to the outcome of investigations and due process.
“In view of the gravity of the allegations, the vulnerability of the alleged victim and the fact that the accused is a serving military officer, we respectfully request that the Nigerian Army commence appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures, subject to the outcome of investigations and due process, and take any other action deemed necessary under military regulations and applicable law,” the letter stated.
The Ministry also pledged to continue working with the Nigerian Army, the National Human Rights Commission, security agencies and other relevant institutions to protect the child and ensure that the allegations are properly investigated.
“The Ministry remains committed to working with the Nigerian Army, the National Human Rights Commission, security agencies and other relevant institutions to ensure that the rights, safety and dignity of the child are protected and that the matter is properly investigated,” it said.
The Ministry further expressed confidence in the Nigerian Army’s commitment to discipline and professionalism.
“We trust in your office’s commitment to discipline, professionalism and the protection of vulnerable persons,” the letter added.
When SaharaReporters contacted Captain Essien, he provided a statement issued by his lawyer, G.T. Ieave, Esq., who explained that the account of the matter was inaccurate.
“We wish to state that this account does not accurately reflect what transpired.”
According to the lawyer, “Our attention has been drawn to speculations circulating on social media that a 15-year-old girl was impregnated and her baby taken from her.
“As counsel in the matter, we wish to state that this account does not accurately reflect what transpired, and we are monitoring closely the situation as events unfold.”
The lawyer explained that the matter is currently before a competent Court of law, and the Police are carrying out discrete investigations to ascertain the true facts of the case.
“In view of the sensitivity of the matter and to avoid prejudicing ongoing legal and investigative processes, we urge members of the public to refrain from speculation and media trial and allow the law to take its course.
“We remain committed to upholding the rights and welfare of all parties involved.”