The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that its operatives have arrested six persons suspected to have gang-raped a 12-year-old girl in Yayu, a community in Katagum local government area of the state.
Rape has been pronounced a capital offence in Bauchi after Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed assented to Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) into law in the state last year. The law provides the death penalty for rape suspects if found guilty.
SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the Spokesperson of the command in Bauchi stated this in a statement on Friday, pointing out that a 50-year-old Abubakar Bello, Idris Sarkin Ruwa, 50, Mustapha Kawu, 40, Idriss Yakubu, 40, Nasiru Dalhatu, 40, Mustapha Kawu, 40, and 37-year old Abubakar Jallaba all residents of Yayu village in Katagum local government of the state lured the victims before raping her.
Bauchi NBA Human Right C’ttee Hails Gov Bala For Assenting To VAPP Law
He said following a discreet investigation by the Gender Unit attached to the command’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), the suspects confessed to having on different occasions enticed the little girl with monetary gifts ranging from N100 to N200 naira “and having canal knowledge of her.”
Wakil explained that the case was referred from the Lower sharia court, Yayu community on January 18th for discreet investigation regarding the girl who according to the statement, was raped on different occasions.
The police spokesperson identified rape as a capital offence and also against humanity that contravened section 283 of the penal code, Section 1(2a-c) of the VAPP ACT of Bauchi state which prescribes the punishment for Rape.
He added that during the investigation, the detectives uncovered all facts and point to establish a prima-facie case against the accused persons respectively.
WikkiTimes recalls that while signing the VAPP bill into law, governor Bala said, “Though it is going to be a tough decision to sign a death warrant, but we will have no option other than to do just that because it behoves us to ensure that justice was served.”
