Three men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 12-year-old hawker in Jalam town in the Dambam Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The suspects, Babangida Buba (35), Kamisu Garba (27), and Yahaya Babayo (30), were said to have lured the victim to the outskirts of the market, where they defiled her.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, said medical examination confirmed that the girl was raped.

Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said, “On May 18, 2023, around 12pm, a distress call was received from a medical doctor serving at the General Hospital, Dambam, that on the same date around 11.30am, one Hafsat Habu (not real name), 12, while in accompany of her father, Buba Usman, went to the hospital for the medical attention of Hafsat.

“It was discovered that the girl was raped based on medical examination. On receiving the information, a team of detectives, led by Divisional Police Officer, Dambam, visited the hospital and launched a discreet investigation into the matter.

“Consequently, the investigation revealed that on May 17, 2023, around 12pm, the victim, while hawking tofu (awara) at Dambam Market, was lured by a group of three persons to the outskirts of the market. They forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The investigation was extended, which led to the arrest of the three suspects.”

He said all the suspects confessed to the crime, adding that they would soon be prosecuted.

Similarly, on May 5, 2022, around 6.20pm, one Fatima, 17, accompanied by her parents, reported to the Toro Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date, around 4pm, she went to the Kayara hill to fetch firewood.

The police spokesperson said, “On her way back, she was suddenly confronted by one Adamu Lawan (16) who was rearing cows. He stopped and threatened her with a machete and then forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her on the spot.

“On receiving the report, a team of detectives, led by the DPO, visited the scene, and rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Toro, for medical examination where a doctor confirmed penetration.

“The suspect was arrested and he confessed to have committed the offence. The suspect would be charged upon the completion investigation.”

In a related development, Wakil said on May 13, 2023, around 5.30pm, a 38-year-old man, Umaru Yusuf, reported at the Itas Gadau Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date, around 12.59pm, one Ibrahim Abdullahi (27) deceitfully lured a seven-year-old girl, Ameera (not real name) into a toilet at the Central Science Primary School and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

According to him, on receiving the report, a team of detectives visited the scene and took the victim to the General Hospital, Itas-Gadau, while the suspect was arrested.

He noted that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime.

The police spokesman said discreet investigation is ongoing, after which the suspect would be charged.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man, Nuhu Ya’u, has been paraded by the Gombe State Police Command for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Ya’u was alleged to have paid the minor not to disclose the incident.

The Gombe State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, while parading the suspect on Friday, said upon receipt of the complaint, the Pero-Chonge Police Division, Filiya, swung into action.

He said, “On May 21, 2023, around 10.30am, one Abdullahi Ali of Kushi village, Shongom LGA, reported that on the same date around 9.30pm, one Nuhu Ya’u, aged 28, of the same address, went to his house and lured his daughter, aged 13, of the same address and took her to her mother’s room and had carnal of her, thereafter giving her money not to speak out. The suspect was arrested by detectives from the Pero-Chonge Division.”

Abubakar confirmed that the suspect owned up to the crime.

“Ya’u confessed to the crime and will soon be charged. A rag and pants were recovered as exhibits,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police also paraded two other suspects, Mohammed Salim, and Musa Ibrahim, for robbing an officer, Inspector Stephen Nyior, of Malam Inna Quarters, Gombe, and two others in the same vicinity. (Saturday PUNCH)

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