A member of the Emiirate council of Lavun local government area of Niger state, one Abubakar Gimba Galadima has been accused of the outright denial of justice for a 16 year old girl who was violently raped by four men from Kashikoko village under Lavun local government.
Mallam Ibrahim Anfani, the victim’s father, spoke exclusively with THE QUEST TIMES. Husaina Ibrahim, Anfani’s sixteen-year-old daughter, was raped violently in April while trying to fetch firewood from the bush, according to Anfani. He claimed that while two of the guys restrained Husaina’s hands and legs, the other two beat, shoved her to the ground, and savagely raped her. She suffered severe injuries and trauma as a result, necessitating her hospitalisation at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida.
Anfani said that in his efforts to get justice, he reported the case to the police but the police referred him to the local court, and the four men were arrested. The four suspected serial rapists are Ladan Yanegi Kashikoko, Alhaji Isah Kudu Kachikoko, Kabiru Yatwuya and Alhaji Nasiru Kashikoko. Even though the case was further referred to the Niger state police headquarters in Minna, the four suspected serial rapists have since been released.
He further explained that two of the suspected rapist were released on bail after paying the sum of 1.6 million naira while one of the suspects was left in jail until recently released. Anfani further lamented that at the release of the two serial rapist, one of the suspects boasted that even if he is taken to court he will be released and set free because he is supported by Alhaji Abubakar Gimba , the Galadima raban Nupe of Bida emirate.
To the chagrin of Mallam Anfani, the four suspected rapists have since been released on bail and all efforts to get these men charged for rape is being swept under the carpet. Depressed and sad at the turn of events, Mallam Anfani is being forced by some members of the police force and the Emirate council to stop further prosecution against the perpetrators. In fact, he has even been called out by the police force to settle his grievance with the serial rapists who is being shielded by the Galadima of Kashikoko under Lavun local government area. According to Anfani, he was offered to the settlement of being installed as the district head of his village.
Mallam Anfani, in tears, revealed that his daughter is no longer the calm, joyful person he once knew. Instead, Husaina has become timid, reclusive, and is primarily afraid to leave the house. Additionally, according to Mallam Anfani, this is not the first time that these four men have viciously assaulted women while getting away with it.
Mallam Anfani recalled that two other girls had previously fall victims of these serial rapists and when the fathers of these girls took the case to the police, they were bribed into silence but for him, he would not accept any compensation except the suspect is charged to court. He however pleaded for help from the entire public, calling for justice to be served because no one would be happy to see the four men who violated their daughter still walking the streets as free men.