A police officer and two other suspects have been arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in Niger State.
The Niger State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hadiza Kuta, disclosed this in Minna, the state capital, on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Kuta said the girl was repeatedly raped by the three suspects before the matter was reported to the ministry.
The commissioner explained that the victim’s parents reported the case to the ministry for intervention, which led to the suspects’ arrest.
“The parents told the ministry that their efforts to seek justice were consistently obstructed, which prompted them to seek the ministry’s assistance,” Kuta said.
Kuta, who expressed concern over the rising cases of rape involving minors and teenagers, lamented that attempts were being made to divert attention from the rape allegations by accusing the victim of stealing livestock.
The commissioner, while stressing the dangers of street hawking, especially for girls, said the suspects took advantage of the girl after buying chickens from her.
She also lamented that the individuals accused of rape were often granted bail shortly after arraignment.
Kuta said such practices deny victims and their families justice and embolden perpetrators to continue the act.
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Kuta added: “It is distressing to observe that cases of this nature frequently cause significant psychological trauma, undermining the educational aspirations of young girls.
“The future of these children can be irreparably damaged by the actions of the perpetrators.”
She, therefore, assured the victim’s family that the ministry would pursue justice on their behalf.
“As part of its intervention, the ministry has relocated the victim from her community to ensure her safety and has placed her under protective custody,” the minister stated.
Kuta said the girl would receive comprehensive medical care, psychological evaluation, counselling, and other support services to assess the physical and emotional impact of the abuse and aid her recovery.
