A serving officer of the Niger State Police Command and two other men have been arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl, the Niger State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, has confirmed.
Kuta disclosed the arrests on Monday in Minna during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. According to her, the three suspects allegedly assaulted the same minor repeatedly before the case was brought to the ministry.
The commissioner said the victim’s parents reported the incident to the Ministry of Women Affairs after they claimed their attempts to get justice were blocked. “The parents told the ministry that their efforts to seek justice were consistently obstructed, which prompted them to seek the ministry’s assistance,” she said.
Kuta said the suspects met the girl after buying chickens from her. She also noted that efforts were being made to shift focus from the rape allegations by accusing the girl of stealing livestock.
She raised concerns over the frequency of rape cases involving minors and teenagers in the state, and criticized the practice of granting bail to rape suspects shortly after arraignment. According to her, the trend undermines justice for victims and their families.
“The future of these children can be irreparably damaged by the actions of the perpetrators,” Kuta said. She added that such cases often result in psychological trauma and disrupt the education of young girls.
As part of its intervention, the ministry has moved the girl out of her community for safety and placed her under protective custody. She will undergo medical treatment, psychological evaluation, counseling, and other support services to address the impact of the abuse.
Kuta said the ministry will follow the case through to court and that the outcome will depend on the charges filed and the strength of the investigation.
“The ministry hopes justice will prevail and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of the victims,” she said.
