The Niger State Police Command has arrested nine suspects for r@pe and s3xual assault of young girls between the age of 3 to 13 years.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
According to the PPRO, three of the victims, aged 3, were s3xually assaulted in Mokwa and Minna.
“The following suspects were arrested within the month of February for the offence of rape, s3xual assault and unnatural offence; Lawal Abubakar 30yrs of Dutsen-Kura, Mohammed Umar 18yrs of Mokwa, Emmanuel Patrick, 15yrs of Chanchaga, Julius Nyikwa 59yrs of Keteren-Gwari, Lawal Gimba 20yrs of Barkin-Sale, Badamasi Abdullahi 19yrs of F/Layout, Usman Haruna Musa 22yrs of D/Kura, Jafar Mohammed 40yrs of K/gora, Emmanuel Ikechukwu 19yrs of K/gora, Usman Abubakar 50yrs of K/gora.
“On the 1st February, 2026 at about 3pm, a case of attempted r@pe and gross indecency was received from GRA Div Minna, which indicated that one Lawal Abubakar 30yrs of Dutsen-Kura Hausa attempted to r@pe a 6yr old girl of the same address in his room.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect lured the victim into his room, and attempted to have carnal knowledge of her.
“Fortunately, the victim’s father, who was looking for her, barged into the room and caught the suspect in the act. He was arrested and transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
“On 10th February, 2026 at about 2pm, a report received in Mokwa Div stated that, on the same date at about 11am, one Mohammed Umar 18yrs of Mokwa lured a 3yr old girl to an uncompleted building and allegedly had carnal knowledge of the girl.
“The suspect was arrested, while the victim was taken to Mokwa general hospital for medical attention. The suspect has been transferred to SCID for further necessary action.
“On 13th February, 2026 at about 8.30pm, report received in Chanchaga Div indicated that one Emmanuel Patrick 15yrs of Ang-Nasarawa Kangiwa Chanchaga sexually assaulted a 3yr old girl of the same area, The suspect was also arrested and transferred to SCID Minna.
“On 16th February, 2026 at about 2pm, a case of rape was received at ‘B’ Div Minna, which also indicated that a 59yr old suspected blind man, Julius Nyikwa of Keteren-Gwari Minna, raped a 10yr old girl of the same compound in his room.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect’s wife is a sister of the victim’s mother, and they are living in the same compound as family. It was further revealed that the suspect repeatedly lured the victim into his room and had carnal knowledge of her.
“During the last encounter, the victim was seen entering the suspect’s room, and the grandmother raised the alarm which attracted neighbours. The suspect was arrested. The case is in SCID for further investigation and the suspect will soon be charged to court.
“Similarly, on the same 16th February, 2026 at about 5.30pm, a case of unlawful s3xual intercourse was received from Kpakungu Div, which was established against one Lawal Gimba 20yrs of Barkin-Sale, that he s@xually assaulted a 12yrs old girl of the same address in his room. In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the suspect trespassed into the victim’s house, beat her up and took her into his room, then forcefully had s8xual intercourse with her. The suspect was arrested, the case is also in SCID for further investigation.
“On 19th February, 2026 at about 10am, a report received from F-Layout area of Minna indicated that on 18/2/2026 at about 10pm, one Badamasi Abdullahi 19yrs of same area lured a 13yr old girl into his uncle’s medicine store, within F-Layout area and attempted to rape the girl, but s3xually assaulted her with the use of finger. The suspect was arrested by the GRA Div, and he confessed to previous sexual acts with the girl. The suspect was also transferred to SCID Minna.
“On the same 19th February, 2026 at about 9.45p.m, a report received from GRA Div Minna indicated that on the same date at about 9p.m, one Usman Haruna Musa 22yrs of Dutsen-Kura Gwari, lured a 3yr old girl residing in the same compound to his room and s3xually assaulted her.
“The victim had earlier gone out to play with other children but while returning home, she was observed by her mother to be shivering and walking abnormally, when questioned, she mentioned the suspect, Usman Haruna whom she referred to as “Baba Balki” as the one who assaulted her s3xually. Her clothes were found stained with blood and other substances. Alarm was immediately raised and the suspect was arrested.
“The victim was immediately taken to the Police Clinic for medical examination and treatment, while the suspect is in custody for further investigation and he will be prosecuted accordingly.
“Earlier on February 11, 2026 at about 10am, one Jafar Mohammed also known as Danlami 40yrs of Sabon-gari K’gora was arrested by Police operatives of Kontangora Area Command for attempted s3xual assault of three young girls of ages 6-7yrs at an uncompleted building located at Dadin-kowa area of Kontagora. Investigation revealed that the suspect lured the girls, enticing them with candy and during the attempt, one of the victims raised an alarm which attracted neighbours and he was arrested.
“The suspect was later handed over to the Police and transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation. He has been charged to court and remanded in the Correctional Centre.
“On 23rd February, 2026 at about 8pm, one Emeka Ikechukwu 19yrs of Kontangora was arrested for s3xual assault against two girls of 5 and 4yrs around barrack’s gate, Kontangora.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have s3xually assaulted one of the girls. He has also been transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, mnips strongly condemns these acts of sexual assault/gross indecency and assures of thorough investigation and prosecution of the suspects, while urging parents/guardians to monitor and protect their children against this criminal act.
“He reiterates that the Police Command remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders such as the Child Rights’ Agency, Ministry of Women Affairs, FIDA and the Judiciary to ensure that children are protected from such harm.”
