For Aliyu Bala, a resident of Minna, Niger State, the abuse of his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter has ended with a 13-year prison sentence, 20 strokes of the cane and an order to pay N250,000 in compensation to the victim.

Following the judgment, authorities took Bala to the palace of the District Head of Bosso, where the sentence of 20 strokes was publicly enforced in the presence of community members.

The Director-General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Ummul-Kalthume Muhammad, described the verdict as an unprecedented step in demonstrating the state government’s determination to protect children and ensure that perpetrators of sexual offences face the consequences of their actions.

She said the public enforcement of the punishment was intended to send a strong warning to anyone who might believe that they could sexually abuse children and escape justice.

Muhammad also appealed to communities to stop shielding perpetrators of child abuse, urging residents to report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.

A representative of the Niger State Ministry of Justice, Shafa, described the judgment as an important development that could set a precedent for the handling of similar cases.

She urged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse rather than allow offenders to evade justice.

According to her, the victim’s mother initially considered withdrawing the case but later decided to allow the legal process to continue after she understood the importance of seeking justice for her daughter and holding the accused accountable.

The District Head of Bosso, Muazu Adamu Laka, said he had never witnessed such a judgment being publicly enforced in his community.

Laka expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying the enforcement would help residents understand the seriousness of sexual abuse against children and serve as a deterrent to others.

The Niger State Child Rights Agency urged residents to report cases of sexual abuse involving children to the organisation or the nearest police station.