Katsina (Nigeria) – The Katsina State Police Command has said it receives no fewer than 20 to 30 reports of rape of minors every month.
According to the Command, most victims are hawkers and underage.
Spokesperson of the state command Salisu Agaisa, made this known while briefing newsmen in Katsina.
According to him, the command was concerned about the increasing reported cases of rape, saying, “It is disheartening to note that most of the victims are underage girls who are hawkers.”
He said the rape resulted in the death of the victims in some cases while others were left with severe injuries.
Agaisa however urged the public to continue to assist the police with vital information about defilers and other forms of criminalities in the state; noting that, the police are ever ready to do more than ever before to arrest and prosecute defilers to serve as deterrent to others.
He also urged parents to take proper care of their children so as to prevent them from being victims.
In another development, the state Police Command has arraigned Hamisu Galadima, a primary school teacher, before a senior magistrate’s court for allegedly raping seven girls in Faskari local government area.
Police prosecutor, ASP Hashimu Musa, told the court that the suspect was arrested following complaints by the victims’ parents.
Musa said all the girls were not above nine years old.
He said the First Information Report indicated that the incident occurred at Tashar-icce village in Faskari Local Government Area.
Musa told the court that Galadima lured the girls into an office after school hours and had sexual intercourse with them at different occasions.
He said the girls’ parents reported the case to the police, after which the suspect was arrested for investigations.
The prosecutor added that the girls were treated at Funtua General Hospital.
He said the offence was punishable under the section 283 of the penal code.
The magistrate, Abdulkarim Ahmed-Umar, adjourned the case till September 24 for mention and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
It would be recall that the state government amended the law against rape last year, which provided a minimum of 14 years or life imprisonment with a fine of N50, 000 and compensation for victims.