Niger State Police Apprehend Nine Suspects in Child Sexual Assault Cases
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine suspects for the rape and sexual assault of young girls aged between 3 and 13 years. This disturbing series of incidents, disclosed by Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun in a statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026, highlights a critical child protection crisis in the state.
Details of the Arrests and Incidents
According to the police spokesperson, the arrests were made throughout February 2026, with victims as young as 3 years old assaulted in locations including Mokwa and Minna. The suspects, whose ages range from 15 to 59, are accused of various offenses including rape, sexual assault, and unnatural acts.
The arrested individuals are:
- Lawal Abubakar, 30, of Dutsen-Kura
- Mohammed Umar, 18, of Mokwa
- Emmanuel Patrick, 15, of Chanchaga
- Julius Nyikwa, 59, of Keteren-Gwari
- Lawal Gimba, 20, of Barkin-Sale
- Badamasi Abdullahi, 19, of F/Layout
- Usman Haruna Musa, 22, of D/Kura
- Jafar Mohammed, 40, of K/gora
- Emmanuel Ikechukwu, 19, of K/gora
- Usman Abubakar, 50, of K/gora
Specific Case Highlights
On February 1, 2026, Lawal Abubakar was caught attempting to rape a 6-year-old girl in his room in Dutsen-Kura after the victim's father intervened. He was arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna.
In Mokwa on February 10, Mohammed Umar allegedly assaulted a 3-year-old girl in an uncompleted building. The victim received medical attention at Mokwa General Hospital, and the suspect was moved to SCID.
Emmanuel Patrick was arrested on February 13 for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl in Chanchaga, while Julius Nyikwa, a 59-year-old blind suspect, was apprehended on February 16 for repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl in the same compound in Minna.
Other cases include Lawal Gimba's assault of a 12-year-old girl in Barkin-Sale on February 16, Badamasi Abdullahi's attempted rape of a 13-year-old in Minna on February 19, and Usman Haruna Musa's assault of a 3-year-old in Dutsen-Kura Gwari on the same day.
Additional Arrests in Kontagora
Earlier, on February 11, Jafar Mohammed was arrested for attempting to assault three girls aged 6-7 in Kontagora, using candy as enticement. He has been charged to court and remanded. On February 23, Emeka Ikechukwu was apprehended for sexually assaulting two girls aged 4 and 5 in Kontagora.
Police Response and Community Warning
Niger State Commissioner of Police CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman strongly condemned these acts, assuring thorough investigation and prosecution. He urged parents and guardians to enhance monitoring and protection of children, emphasizing the police's commitment to collaborating with stakeholders like the Child Rights' Agency, Ministry of Women Affairs, FIDA, and the Judiciary to safeguard children from such harm.
All suspects are currently in custody, with cases under further investigation at SCID Minna, and prosecutions are expected to follow swiftly to ensure justice for the young victims.
