A man who raped his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment, ordered to pay N250,000 in compensation to the victim, and given 20 lashes of the whip in public.
The man, identified as Aliyu Bala, was found guilty of raping the girl at a magistrate’s court in Minna.
After the judgment, the authorities took Bala to the Hakimi Palace in Bosso, where he was publicly flogged in the presence of community members.
The Director-General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Barrister Ummul-Kalthume Muhammad, described the development as an unprecedented step to show that the government does not take sexual offences against children lightly.
She said the public enforcement was intended to send a strong warning to anyone who thinks they can abuse children and escape justice, while calling on communities to stop protecting and shielding people who commit such offences.
A representative of the Niger State Ministry of Justice, Shafa, described the judgment as an important development that would set a precedent for how similar cases are handled, urging members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse instead of allowing offenders to escape justice.
According to her, the victim’s mother initially considered withdrawing the case because of pressures from families and the community but later decided to allow the legal process to continue after understanding the importance of seeking justice for the child and holding the accused accountable.
The Hakimi of Bosso, Malam Muazu Adamu Laka, said this is the first time he has witnessed such a judgment in Minna, adding that it will serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who has the mind to commit such a crime in the future.
He expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying the public enforcement would help community members understand the seriousness of child sexual abuse.