By Uthman Baba Naseer, Minna
A 25-year-old man, Bala Aliyu, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to receive 20 strokes of the cane for sexually abusing his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter in Bosso, Niger State.
The sentence was handed down by Senior Magistrate Samira Jibrin Wambai of Minna Senior Magistrate Court No. 9, which also ordered Aliyu to pay ₦250,000 compensation to the victim.
The 20 strokes of the cane were publicly carried out at the palace of the District Head of Bosso, where Aliyu received the punishment in the presence of members of his family and community.
Aliyu, who had been serving his prison term at the Minna Medium Correctional Centre, Tunga, was brought from the correctional facility to Bosso for the enforcement of the court’s order.
The case was prosecuted through the Niger State Child Rights and Protection Agency (NSCRPA), headed by its Director-General, Barrister Ummul-Kalthume Muhammed.
Speaking after witnessing the enforcement of the sentence, Muhammed described the development as a significant step in the fight against child sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
She said the public enforcement of the punishment was intended to send a strong warning to anyone who believed that they could abuse children and escape justice.
“We in the Niger State Child Rights and Protection Agency are prepared to go all out to take anyone involved in gender-based violence against the girl child or domestic violence against women and vulnerable persons out of the community,” she said.
Muhammed stressed that the agency would not compromise in ensuring that perpetrators faced the full weight of the law.
“We will not allow such persons to move freely in our streets. The full wrath of justice will be visited on perpetrators of these crimes against our girl child,” she added.
According to her, the punishment was not only about the convict but also intended to serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate sexually abusing children.
She urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse, molestation and other forms of gender-based violence to the appropriate authorities rather than shielding perpetrators.
The prosecuting counsel from the Niger State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Aisha Shafa, described the judgment as an important development that could serve as a precedent in the handling of similar cases.
Shafa disclosed that the victim’s mother had initially considered withdrawing the case but later decided to allow the legal process to continue after understanding the importance of seeking justice for her daughter and holding the accused accountable.
She urged parents, traditional rulers and community members to report suspected cases of child abuse to the NSCRPA or the nearest police station for prompt action.
The District Head of Bosso, Malam Muazu Adamu Laka, said he had never witnessed the public enforcement of such a judgment in his community.
He expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, saying the public enforcement would help residents understand the seriousness of child sexual abuse and discourage others from committing similar offences.
The development has renewed calls for parents, traditional rulers and community members to take stronger action against child sexual abuse by reporting offenders and suspected cases to the relevant authorities.
Authorities also warned communities against protecting or concealing perpetrators, stressing that child sexual abuse must be confronted through the justice system.
