- As court remands 10 men over rape of 14-year-old disabled teenager in Kaduna
A suspected rapist identified as Chinazum Ubani, has macheted a 14 year old girl to coma at Obete Nchina Village, Ntighauzo community in Obingwa council area of Abia State.
The girl was said to have gone to fetch firewood with her mates at a bush in the village when they were attacked with a machete by Chinazum.
The suspect allegedly attempted to rape the 14 year old whose name was given as Felicia, but was resisted.
Unable to have his way, he pulled a machete and gave the girl deep cuts on her head, leg and hand, leaving her in a pool of blood and fled.
Father of the victim, Mr. Chijioke Anaba, said his family was alerted to the incident by Felicia’s mates who escaped the attack. He lamented that his daughter lost consciousness because of too much loss of blood from the machete cuts when the search party rescued her from the bush.
He also alleged that the Police at the Eastern Ngwa Division demanded N30,000 from him to register the matter, while they also visited her at the hospital.
Anaba stated that he is afraid that the suspect, who hails from the same village, may be released from custody to return to continue his attack on his family.
He further stated that the Police had told him that the suspect is mentally deranged, which he said is untrue.
He said: ”My daughter had fallen into a coma when she was rescued by the search party in the bush. We took her to the hospital and lodged a report with the Police at the Eastern Ngwa Division. The Police demanded N30,000 to investigate the matter, which I paid. They have arrested the suspect, but from what’s happening, I’m afraid that Chinazum may be released from detention to continue his attack and kill my daughter. The police should do their job because the boy is now a risk to the people in the village.”
He urged the wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs Priscilla Otti, to come to the aid of the daughter as she may be disabled following the deep machete cuts inflicted on her by the suspect.
In Kaduna State, Chief Magistrate Court remanded 10 men in a correctional facility over the rape of a 14-year-old disabled girl in Likoro village, Kudan Local Government Area, Kaduna State. An 11th suspect remains at large.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the suspects repeatedly raped the victim at different times and locations, leading to her pregnancy. She gave birth to a baby boy four months ago.
Prosecutor Inspector Yakubu I. Lemu told the court that the crime violated Section 257 of the Kaduna State Penal Code. He explained, “On October 27, 2024, Usman Yusuf reported discovering that his younger sister, Fatima Maikanti, was six months pregnant. When questioned, she revealed that the suspects had lured her to different places in the village, where they sexually assaulted her, resulting in her pregnancy and the birth of a baby boy.”
The prosecutor confirmed that each of the suspects had sexual intercourse with the victim at various locations, all of which contravened the law.
Trial judge, Justice Abubakar Lamido, said the court was awaiting advice from the Ministry of Justice and ordered the suspects to be remanded at the correctional center until the case is transferred to the high court. The case was adjourned to May 22, 2025.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, reassured the public that the state government would ensure justice is served. She expressed concern for the victim, who is now caring for a child she is too young to care for herself.
“The victim was repeatedly raped at 14, leading to her pregnancy. Now she has a baby she cannot care for, as she is a child herself,” Salisu said.
“The Kaduna State government has laws that protect women, children, and vulnerable individuals, including the Child Protection and Social Welfare Law, the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law, and the Sex Offender Registry, where the names of offenders are registered to serve as a deterrent to others. This case is especially heartbreaking, as both of the victim’s parents are blind, and she herself has partial vision loss,” said Commissioner Rabi Salisu.
“The victim has now given birth to a four-month-old child. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) handling the case, who is now retired, had initially silenced the case. However, with the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, the case was reopened as a fresh matter, given that the incident occurred over a year ago and she now has a child.”
“The former DPO had arrested the suspects and released them on bail. Since this is a capital offense, bail should not have been granted. This is why we reopened the case and re-arrested the suspects,” she added.
Commissioner Salisu thanked the Commissioner of Police and his team for their swift action in re-arresting the suspects and assured the public that the state would do everything within the law to ensure justice for the victim.
“The state government will take responsibility for the social welfare of both the child and the mother, as she is also a child. They will be under our care for their protection,” she stated.
She also warned the public that the state government would not tolerate any form of abuse, torture, or molestation of women, children, and especially people living with disabilities.
