Fresh concerns have emerged in Niger State following the re arrest and arraignment of a 40 year old man accused of attempting to sexually assault three minors in Kontagora, raising renewed questions about gaps within the justice system and the handling of sexual offence cases.
The suspect, Jafar Muhammed, also known as Danlami, was apprehended on February 11 in an uncompleted building in the Sabon Gari area after allegedly luring the children with sweets. One of the girls, aged between five and seven, reportedly escaped and alerted her grandmother. Community members subsequently intervened, leading to the suspect’s arrest before the alleged act could be completed.
The Niger State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Kuta, disclosed that the suspect had been arrested in June last year for a similar offence involving a three year old girl but was later released. Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Kuta expressed shock that the suspect was back in the community and allegedly attempting the same crime again.
She spoke while hosting civil society organisations under the umbrella of Global Promoters for Community Initiatives, the implementers of the SCAPAGBV 3.0 project supported by the Nigeria Women Trust Fund. The delegation was led by Project Director Olasukanmi Kalejaiye.
Kuta vowed that her ministry would closely monitor the case until its conclusion, insisting that anyone found aiding or facilitating bail for habitual offenders should also be scrutinised. She stressed that offences of this nature are not bailable and questioned how the suspect was previously released after being charged to court. According to her, the state government would push for firm judicial action to prevent a repeat occurrence.
The commissioner further revealed that her ministry had to provide financial assistance to the victims’ families to cover medical tests and logistics, warning that many sexual offence cases collapse due to poverty and lack of adequate support for victims seeking justice.
Also speaking, Kalejaiye assured that civil society groups would ensure the suspect faces the full weight of the law and is appropriately sentenced if found guilty.
Confirming the development, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the suspect had indeed been arrested, investigated, and charged to court last year for a similar offence. However, he noted that the police were unaware of the circumstances that led to the suspect’s discharge.
Abiodun emphasised that offences involving defilement and attempted defilement are serious crimes under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Child Rights Law, both of which prescribe severe penalties, adding that prosecution in the current case is ongoing.
