Man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping 8-year-old deaf girl

A High Court in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State has sentenced a certain Jamilu Abdullahi to life imprisonment for the rape of an eight-year-old deaf girl.

The court found that Abdullahi lured the victim to an unfinished building in Dan-Warai village in Aliero County and sexually assaulted her.

Judge Maryam Abubakar-Kaoje described the crime as heinous, noting that the convict had exploited the child’s vulnerability and abused the trust of the community.

She said the prosecution had made strong arguments, including a confession, eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence.

Earlier, the prosecution’s lawyer, Attorney Zainab Jabbo, told the court: “She was approached by the accused, who lured her into an unfinished building and had sexual intercourse with her.”

Similarly, the Akwa Ibom State Police arrested 32 suspects involved in a range of criminal activities, including theft, kidnapping, rape, vandalism, murder, cultism and child trafficking.

Speaking at a press conference, Police Commissioner Waheed Ayilara said among those arrested was one Paul Samuel Edu, a 44-year-old man, for allegedly assaulting and raping a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ukana Iba village, Essien Udim.

He said: “On 20/07/2024 at about 3pm, a NYSC member residing at Ukana Iba village in Essien Udim reported that Paul Samuel Edu (her landlord’s son) knocked on her door at about 3am. When he opened the door, he brandished a machete and told her to follow him to his room for a talk or he would harm her. When he reached the suspects’ room, he locked the door, tore her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

“The suspect was arrested and a machete and a butcher’s knife were confiscated from him. The investigation is ongoing.”