Thirteen years old Rabi Abdulaziz (not real names) of the Umaru Farouk Bahago Primary School in Minna has a long way to recovery. She has been infected with hepatitis by her 45-year school teacher, Musa Rabo.

The accused Rabo broke Rabi’s trust. He lured her into one of the empty classes in School the he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her, thereby defiling her.

Rabi so terrified by the experience and too afraid could not report this incidence to her parents for fear of reprimand. However, her nervousness earlier on had suggested to her mother that something was not right about her sudden behavior. Upon thorough investigation, she let the cat out of the bag.

The matter was therefore reported to the school headmaster. As it usually the case, the authorities of the school tried to cover up the case and prevented it from blowing out of proportion but failed, as Rabi’s family insisted on getting justice.

In other to ascertain her health status as demanded in such cases, Rabi was taken to the Minna General Hospital where a medical examination confirmed their fears and also of the infection of the dreaded hepatitis disease.

The case was then reported to the Niger State Police Command for further investigation. The state Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun has confirmed the incident.

He said: “On 26/10/2022 at about 1300hrs, one Musa Rabo 45 years of Dutsen-Kura, Minna, who is also a teacher at Dr Umar Faruk Primary School Keteren Gwari Minna, was arrested based on a report made at ‘A’ Division Minna of an alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old female student.

He said the case is under investigation and the suspect has been transferred to SCID Minna for discreet investigation.

Resurgence of sexual violence against minors

Cases of sexual violence against minors by domestic workers and close and family friends are on the increase.

Not too long Popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha, got a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment by a Lagos State Domestic Violence and Special Offences Court for the defiling a 14-year-old girl.

Facts of the case said that he started having carnal knowledge of the minor when she was seven years old and committed the same offence seven years later.

July 4, 2022, in another touching story, a nurse, Ebele, was relieved to finally get justice for her daughter and her niece, ages six and seven who were constantly defiled by their housekeeper, one Bright Izuchukwu.

The 27-year-old young
used his knowledge of the location of a Close Circuit Television installed in the house to avoid being captured when he committed the crime.

“I always gave my daughter sex education, and from time to time, I asked my daughter whether anyone touched her private parts.

“On July 17 or 18, 2018, I asked her if anyone touched her private parts. She said Izuchukwu used to place her on his lap and insert his fingers into her private parts, and he subsequently inserted his manhood into her private parts.

“She said the defilement occurred in the study room in a certain area of the house. I have CCTV cameras mounted all over my home, but it is not reflected in these parts of the house,” the mother said. Izuchukwu got a life sentence for the crime.

Yet again, June 27, 2022, the Appeal Court in Lagos upheld a judgment of an Ikeja Special Offences Court which had sentenced a driver, Francis Apai, to 15 years’ imprisonment for raping his employer’s 18-year-old daughter in Lagos.

Child sexual abuse in Nigeria is an offence under several sections of the country’s criminal code. The age of consent is 18.

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund says six out of every 10 children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical, or sexual abuse before the age of 18, with half experiencing physical violence.

In addition, of all the children who reported violence, less than five out of 100 received support.