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Rape cases surge in Niger State as victims father, authorities call for justice

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Rape cases appear to be on the increase in Niger State, with young children of four years being defiled by those who should protect them.

In most cases, the perpetrators escape without being served justice, while most rape cases are not reported to the authorities.

According to reports, some of the few cases reported are often withdrawn due to fear of stigmatization, lack of funds to pursue them, among others.

In response to the surge in rape cases, advocates are urging strict enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015, a Nigerian law designed to criminalize violence against individuals, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harmful traditional practices, and provides protection and remedies for victims in the country.

In an interview with a father from Kontagora, Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State, his four-year-old daughter was defiled by several persons and dumped at a refuse site.

Narrating his ordeal, the father, who spoke anonymously, said the incident occurred in April 2025, when unknown persons sneaked into the family’s compound at night and carried the girl away while they were asleep.

According to the father, his little girl was raped by several men who damaged her organs and dumped her on a refuse dump site.

” As soon as we noticed she was missing, we started searching for her with the help of neighbors in the night for hours. Neighbors discovered my little baby lying helplessly and unable to move on a dump site after the 5 am Muslim prayers.

“When we checked her, we saw blood stains between her legs, and further examination revealed that she had been raped to the point her organs were out. She told us that she was carried away while sleeping by unknown persons to an unfinished building, and after raping, dumped her on a refuse site,” he stated.

The girl was immediately rushed to Kontagora General Hospital, where the management referred her to a hospital in Sokoto State for proper treatment.

With a heavy heart, the father conveyed his daughter to Sokoto through the support of the Kontagora General Hospital and was discharged after two weeks. She is still receiving treatment.

Mary Isah, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger State, expressed concern about the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in the state. “GBV is a great menace that needs to be addressed. It causes havoc, splits homes, removes peace from homes, and sends victims into depression,” she said.

The girl was immediately rushed to Kontagora General Hospital, where the management referred her to a hospital in Sokoto State for proper treatment.

With a heavy heart, the father conveyed his daughter to Sokoto through the support of the Kontagora General Hospital and was discharged after two weeks. She is still receiving treatment.

Mary Isah, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger State, expressed concern about the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in the state. “GBV is a great menace that needs to be addressed. It causes havoc, splits homes, removes peace from homes, and sends victims into depression,” she said.

 

According to Isah, GBV affects both males and females, but women and children are more vulnerable. “Out of all the cases reported, more than half are from females, and a small fraction are from males. Probably due to ego, males find it difficult to report,” she explained.

The director urged victims to report cases of GBV to ensure justice is served. “We want everyone to know that you must not die in silence. This is not the era of ‘I’m the man.’ You keep quiet, and the woman will deal with you silently, and then all of a sudden, the ultimate happens,” she said. She also called on relevant stakeholders to join in the fight against the menace and demand justice for victims.

Mrs Rachel Turakin, Director of Social Welfare Services at the Ministry, confirmed that there are many rape cases in the state, especially in Minna. “We are dealing with several rape cases, but we have few convictions so far. Since we started, we have gotten about five convicted cases, although very minimal,” she said.

According to Turakin, about 114 cases are ongoing in various courts, awaiting conviction. “We know eventually they will be convicted, especially in rape cases,” she added.

Confirming the case of the four-year-old from Kontagora, Turaki said, “According to the report, because of the heat, the family was sleeping outside, and some people forcefully picked her up and took her to an unknown place where they raped her, resulting in severe injuries to her organs.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Shitu, assured that the state government is committed to protecting victims of GBV, with a law in place to punish offenders.

“We urge victims of not only rape but any kind of GBV to speak out to ensure justice is served and get support. Just like the parents of the four-year-old did, the State Government ensured she received treatment and will be returning to Sokoto for her second surgery,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary, added that the ministry is using its social area officers to sensitize communities on the need to speak out against GBV to ensure perpetrators are dealt with in the state to reduce it drastically.

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I will not abandon projects – Uba Sani

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Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has promised to complete all projects within the tenure of his administration, pledging that no project will be abandoned by his government.

The Governor made this known during groundbreaking of township roads at Rigasa ward in Igabi local government of Kaduna State on Friday.

Speaking extempore in Hausa, the Governor said that the road project will be executed without collecting any debt, adding that his administration will not be indebted to any contractor who completes his project.

Sani further said that the four road projects in Rigasa has been awarded to China Civil Engineering Corporation(CCEC), a company he described as versatile and credible.

According to him, the project will be completed within one year as he has already given 50% mobilization fees to CCEC.

The Governor pledged to transform Rigasa into a modern township with quality infrastructure and social amenities.

He described the ceremony as “not just about breaking ground; it is about rewarding hard work. It is about opening up opportunities for the hardworking people of Igabi Local Government.

“Rigasa is one of the largest and most populous wards in Nigeria. It is populated by the urban poor. It has suffered neglect for so long. Its infrastructure deficit is worrisome.”

Governor Sani noted that despite its proximity to the city center and being home to hardworking and resourceful citizens, Rigasa had been overlooked for too long.

He recalled the significant support he received from Rigasa during the 2023 governorship election, noting that 32.06% of the total votes from Igabi LGA came from the ward, adding that “for this, I remain eternally grateful to you.”

Governor Sani emphasized that the project would directly benefit thousands of households in the area.

“In Igabi Local Government lies a large chunk of people who support us through their daily sacrifices as farmers, civil servants, businessmen and women.

“Through their sacrifices, they contribute significantly to our economy as well as our GDP. Investing, therefore, in roads like these will directly improve the livelihoods of thousands of households,” he said.

Similarly, the Governor performed another groundbreaking of the road reconstruction of Zango at Tudun Wada ward in Kaduna South LGA.

According to him, “I have an emotional attachment to this area because I am a product of Kaduna Polytechnic.

“I understand and share in the pains of the inhabitants of this area who have suffered neglect for decades. There is very little road infrastructure in this area.

“The few existing ones are dilapidated. This area is populated by the urban poor who are making huge contributions to the development of our dear State.”

Governor Sani vowed to turn the pains of the residents of Tudun Wada to joy, adding that “today is the beginning of good things for Zango and other parts of Tudun Wada.”

“This road is hugely significant because it passes through several key establishments like Zango Cattle Market, Animal Feed Stores, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi College, Islamic Medical Foundation, and School of Health Technology, as well as its proximity to the Kaduna City Centre and link to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western By-Pass,“ he added.

The Governor pointed out that his government has made significant progress in road construction and rehabilitation since he assumed office.

“Under our Rural Revitalization Agenda, we flagged off the construction of 85 roads covering 785km in the first phase, with 44 already completed and the rest nearing completion.

“Under the second phase, we are delivering over 50 more roads and bridges totalling 550km,” he added.

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Terrorism: DSS resumes prosecution of Ansaru commander Al-Barnawi, four others

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an application filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, to expedite proceedings in the trial of the suspected mastermind of the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, Khalid Al-Barnawi and four others.

The DSS, through its counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, had moved the application for accelerated hearing on the ground that the service is prepared to ensure that the case is determined in a timely manner.

In the application, which was not opposed by counsels to the defendants, parties will be allowed to watch video recordings presented by the DSS to prove that the extrajudicial statements made by the defendants was done voluntarily as against the claim of some of the defendants.

Justice Nwite then adjourned the matter until October 23 and October 24 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

Ekwutosblog reports that Al-Barnawi is being prosecuted on terrorism related charges along with other suspected members of his group.

Other co-defendants include Mohammed Bashir Saleh; Umar Mohammed Bello, a.k.a Datti; Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu, a.k.a Bello Maishayi.

 

They are, among others, accused of being members of the Ansaru terrorist group, also known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan.

The defendants are also alleged to have conspired among themselves to carry out acts of terrorism between 2011 and 2013 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and other states in the northern part of the country.

He was reported to have claimed that it carried out an attack on a maximum security prison in Abuja in 2012 during which dozens of inmates were freed.

The DSS had, in April 2016, arrested Al-Barnawi in Lokoja in Kogi, five years after the attack on the Abuja UN Building.

Earlier, the United States placed a $5 million (£3.5m) bounty on Al-Barnawi’s head after branding him one of three Nigerian “specially designated global terrorists.”

The attack, the first of such in Nigeria on an international organisation, left over 20 persons dead and over 70 others injured.

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Awujale stool: Aspirants warned against seeking diabolical power

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The Head of Fusengbuwa ruling House of Ijebu Ode, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, has called on aspirants seeking to fill the vacant stool of Awujale of Ijebuland never to seek ‘diabolical power’ as the selection process will soon commence.

Owoyemi also clarified that the ruling house is yet to commence the selection process.

He made these statements when he received members of the Tunwase ruling house, who visited him, to affirm his leadership as the ‘Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa ruling house.

Recall that the throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland became vacant, following the demise of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who joined his ancestors on July 13, 2025, at 91, after reigning for 65 years.

Addressing journalists after the courtesy visit, Otunba Owoyemi said, “The Tunwase family is a very important unit in the Fusengbuwa ruling house. We can’t push them over because this is a family that had in the past produced three Awujales; including Oba Adenuga Folagbade. So, it is a thing of joy that they have come to accept my leadership as the head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.

“They said, we should ensure that they are carried along and given due recognition in whatever we do in Fusengbuwa ruling house, especially when the process for the selection of the new Awujale commences, and that is what we are going to do.

“I am really glad to welcome them and I am assuring them of my upright leadership and the commitment to produce the best Awujale in the history of Ijebu and Yoruba land as a whole.

“We heard that some people somewhere said they are setting up a screening committee for the selection of Awujale, they can do whatever they like, but the Fusengbuwa ruling house is yet to do anything in that regard.”

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