NSCDC arrests 42-year-old man for allegedly defiling minor in Kebbi

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kebbi State Command, has arrested a 42-year-old man for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.

The arrest was made at Diri village in Sakaba Local council of the state, where the act was perpetrated.

Briefing newsmen yesterday while parading the suspect, the state commandant, Suleiman Ibrahim-Mafara, said the man, along with three other suspects, were brought to the command headquarters, Birnin Kebbi, for further investigation.

He said preliminary investigation and available records had shown that the girl was defiled.

“A medical record obtained from a hospital and confessional statements from both the survivor and the suspect confirmed penetration.

“As soon as we complete the investigation, we will prosecute the suspect in the court of law for legal sanction,” Ibrahim-Mafara said.

He added that two of the three other suspected criminals were arrested on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, trespass, and theft.

According to him, the two men were suspected to have stolen a motorcycle at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi.

The commandant added that the fourth suspect was arrested for unlawful possession of a locally made firearm, intimidation, and criminal trespass.

He assured that as soon as the investigation was completed, all the suspects would be charged to court for appropriate sanction.

Meanwhile, a civil society group, the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence in Kebbi, said it would push for full prosecution of the rape case.

A member of the group, Ibrahim Ngaski, told newsmen that they would follow the case to its logical conclusion, to ensure that the victim gets justice.

He lauded the NSCDC for discharging its duties diligently and urged officials to sustain the tempo for the good of all.

Ngaski appealed to the Kebbi State House of Assembly to expedite action in passing the Gender-Based Violence Bill before it to curb the recurrence of rape and other related crimes in the society.

“Passing this bill into law will certainly curtail the incessant cases of rape and other related cases across the state.

“I want to advise parents not to feel shy in cases related to rape. Instead, they should endeavour to expose the culprits to relevant authorities for appropriate measures against the perpetrators to rid the society of the menace,” he added.