A Minna Senior Magistrate Court has handed down a combined 95-year prison sentence to four men for the gang rape and impregnation of a 13-year-old girl. The defendants, identified as Salisu Shehu Baura, Lawali Shaibu, Haruna Musa Saidu, and a man known as Bello, resided in Kontagora, Niger State. Bello was convicted in absentia, as he fled after receiving bail.
Authorities from the Kontagora Divisional Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) apprehended the suspects. The group was charged with participating in a joint act and engaging in illegal sexual intercourse, violating both the Penal Code and the Niger State Child Rights Law of 2023. During the trial, the prosecution presented testimonies from the victim, her father, and an NSCDC investigator, alongside five exhibits including medical reports and recorded confessions.
Senior Magistrate Christy Umar Barau condemned the actions as heartless. While the defense requested leniency due to the convicts’ displayed remorse, the judge emphasized the need for a stiff penalty to deter such violence. The court sentenced three of the men to 25 years each, while the fugitive fourth defendant received a 20-year term. Niger State officials hailed the ruling as a significant victory in the ongoing campaign against sexual violence and child abuse.
