Niger court jails man 13 years, orders 20 strokes for defiling 10-year-old

A court in Minna, Niger State, sentenced a 25-year-old man, Bala Aliyu, to 13 years in prison and 20 lashes for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in the Bosso area. Senior Magistrate Samira Jibrin Wambai also ordered Aliyu to pay ₦250,000 in compensation to the victim. The judgment was carried out at the District Head's palace in Bosso, where Aliyu received the 20 lashes in front of his family and the community.

The case was brought by the Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency, led by Director-General Ummul-Kalthume Muhammed. Muhammed hailed the ruling as a major step against child sexual abuse and gender-based violence, warning perpetrators they would not escape justice and urging communities to report suspected cases to authorities.

Prosecutors from the Niger State Ministry of Justice hailed the judgment, noting it was precedent-setting. The victim's mother initially contemplated withdrawing the case, but later allowed it to proceed after realizing the importance of seeking justice. Parents, traditional rulers, and community members were urged to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency or the police.

District Head Malam Muazu Adamu Laka expressed satisfaction with the enforcement of the court order, stating it would help residents understand the seriousness of child sexual abuse and act as a deterrent to others.