Operatives of Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested four suspects, including three teenagers for homosexuality (unnatural offence), involving eight under-aged boys, contrary to Section 284 of the state’s penal code.

Spokesperson for the Command, Adamu Shehu, in a statement, yesterday, said the suspects were arrested in parts of Birnin Kudu Local Council of the state.

The suspects, according to him, included one Bashir Hassan, 22, of Habude Quarters; Ado Muhammad Usman, 18, Abba, 15 and Yusuf Garba, 14, all of Kofar Fada Quarters of the council.

Shehu added that two of the suspects were arrested on Saturday, May 28, 2023, at about 1:30 p.m. following a complaint lodged by the father of an 11-year-old victim (name withheld) of the same address, while the two others were arrested in the course of investigations.

According to him, “The father of the victim stated that he noticed the constant visitation of his child to Ado’s Barbing Shop and most times will return with some gifts, including sweets, therapeutic food popularly known as ‘tamowa’, and money which heightened his suspicion. Upon inquiry from the boy, he stated his relationship with Ado and his friends.

“The boy narrated that Ado used to take him and his friend from the neighbourhood, a 12-year-old to an uncompleted building nearby and had carnal knowledge of them and thereafter, invited his friends namely: Yusuf Garba and Usman Abba to also engage them with a threat to kill them if they dared to tell anyone.

“Investigation further revealed that another suspect, Bashir Hassan and six other victims aged between 11- 13 respectively were both sodomised. Hassan used to give them N20, N50 as the case may be and his phone for them to play games,” the spokesperson said.

Shehu confirmed that investigation also revealed that the syndicate had sodomised a total of eight under-aged children. Furthermore, he confirmed that medical examination conducted at the Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, (SARC), Dutse General Hospital, revealed evidence of repeated sexual penetrations.

“Although two of the suspects: namely Yusuf Garba and Usman Abba denied the allegations, medical reports obtained from SARC revealed that they themselves were victims of the alleged crime.

“All the suspects would be charged to court, after all investigations are concluded,” Shehu added. (The Guardian)

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