Police in Nigeria have arrested 11 suspects, including a 57-year-old man, for raping a 12-year-old girl in the northwestern state of Jigawa. According to Premium Times, the spokesperson for the Police Command in the state, Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the suspects were arrested on May 30 after a tip-off.
Jinjiri alleged the 57-year-old suspect was seen attempting to lure the victim at Limawa market in the city of Dutse.
“A case of rape is being investigated at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dutse, sequel to a report received by the Police that a 57-year-old man of Ma’ai village, Dutse LGA was seen at Limawa market trying to lure a 12-year-old girl of the same address, to a seclusion so as to have sexual intercourse with her,” he said.
The victim, who was interrogated by the police, also identified 11 men she alleged raped her on multiple occasions over a period of time. Jinjiri confirmed the suspects are in custody and would soon be arraigned before court once investigations are completed.
“And to this end, the police arrested the listed suspects,” he said.
In a related news, Nigerians have taken to Twitter and other social media platforms to demand justice for the murder of Uwavera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin. She was allegedly raped and attacked in church where she went to study and died three days after.
The hashtag – #JusticeForUwa – has been trending on Twitter in Nigeria since May 31.
Uwa’s family is pleading to authorities to find the perpetrators of this tragic incident. They are also appealing to the public to help track down the killers.
Her sister, Judith, told BBC Pidgin that the deceased had been studying in the hall of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, near her home when she was raped and struck with a fire extinguisher on her forehead. She died in the hospital last Saturday, three days after the attack.
Omozuwa often frequented the church in her neighborhood whenever she wanted somewhere quiet to read or study.
