A four-year-old orphan, Ukasha, was allegedly brutalised by his uncle and guardian, Mai-Naira Abdullahi, in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The incident occurred on Saturday, 12th April 2025, in the Galafima Phase II Area of Tudun Amba, Lafia.
A rights advocacy group, the Men Against R3pe Foundation (MARF), in a statement on Thursday, condemned the brutal assault of the minor.
According to the foundation, little Ukasha was viciously fl0gged by Abdullahi for dancing at a neighbourhood naming ceremony alongside other children and women.
The uncle, allegedly offended by the boy’s participation in what he considered a violation of his beliefs, subjected the child to a savage beating that left deep cuts on his back, sides, face and stomach.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as harrowing, saying the wounds remained fresh and visible even two days after the incident.
The child confirmed in a brief interview that he received no pain relief or medical treatment following the beating.
In the statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr Lemmy Ughegbe and Director of Strategic Development, Dr Augustine Eigbe, the foundation described the assault as “an act that borders on attempted murder” and a gross violation of the child’s fundamental rights.
“This is not an isolated case. Only in February this year, a student at a well-known Islamic school in Lafia was reportedly flogged to death, yet the matter was buried without justice,” the statement read.
The group called on the Governor, Abdullahi Sule to immediately intervene in the matter, urging the governor to ensure the rescue and safety of Ukasha, initiate a full-scale investigation into the abuse, and prosecute the guardian to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We cannot continue to normalise brutality under the guise of discipline or religious assertion. A society that cannot protect its children cannot protect its future.”
