Garissa: Uproar after Grade 9 pupil defiled, murdered by uncle

A family in Hagadera, Garissa County, is demanding justice following the murder of a 16-year-old Grade 9 pupil who was defiled and murdered by her uncle.

Safiya Abdi Bilali, who had just done her KJSEA assessment before the incident, died in the hands of a guardian who was taking care of her after the death of her mother.

Safiya was raised by her father, and her uncle who would mind her and four other siblings when her father left for work as a watchman during the night.

Life took a turn for the worse on November 16. It is alleged that on the fateful day, her uncle defiled her. When she fought back, she was strangled, defiled repeatedly, and murdered. Efforts were made to conceal the murder.

The uncle, Hussein Shafi Bilali, is said to have taken advantage of the minor during the night when her father was away.

The incident happened inside their house within Hagadera refugee camp, Borehole 5. Even though Safiya has been buried and at least four suspects arrested, among them the prime suspect, her devastated family says this is not enough.

The four suspects arrested include: the 20-year-old Hussein Shafi Bilali (prime suspect), Zainab Salat Samatar, Halima Yussuf Moge and Abubakar Abdullahi.

They have been presented in court and police have been allowed 21 days of investigation.