The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 62-year-old man, Adamu Danga Rijau, for defiling a 6-year-old girl in Minna.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, said an eyewitness caught the suspect raping the minor inside a cemetery and raised an alarm.
The suspect, who fled from the scene, was pursued and caught by a mob.
According to the PPRO, the suspect blamed alcohol for the crime, claiming he was under the influence of the palm wine he had taken on his way home from the farm.
“On 30/1/2024 at about 2100hrs, information was received at Bosso Div that, on the same date at about 1800hrs, one Adamu Danga Rijau aged 62yrs of Bosso Lowcost area of Minna was sighted around Numui cemetery without trousers, on top of a minor girl of about 6yrs of age, while the suspect took to his heels from the spot,” the statement read.
“However, before the Police Div could mobilize to the scene, it was reported that an alarm was raised by the witness. Consequently, the suspect was pursued and arrested by the mob. He was immediately taken to Bosso Div where a preliminary investigation was conducted and the case was transferred to SCID Minna.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having lured the victim to the cemetery area, when she was sent on an errand by her mother. He confessed further that he defiled the minor girl due to intoxication.
“He claimed that he drank some quantity of palm wine that he bought on his way home from the farm, and that he was under the influence of the palm wine before committing the act.
“Meanwhile, the victim was taken to the Police clinic for a medical examination, as the case is under investigation and the suspect will be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after the conclusion of investigation processes.”