Aliyu Bala has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and 20 strokes of the cane after being convicted of raping his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter in Minna, Niger State.
The court further directed the convict to pay N250,000 as compensation to the victim.
Following the judgment, Aliyu Bala was taken to the Hakimi Palace in Bosso by authorities, where he was publicly flogged in the presence of members of the community.
The Director-General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Barrister Ummul-Kalthume Muhammad, described the development as an unprecedented move, stressing that the government would not tolerate s+xual offences against children .
She explained that the public enforcement was aimed at sending a strong message to anyone who believes they can abuse children and evade justice.
Muhammad further urged communities to desist from shielding or concealing individuals accused of committing such offences.
A representative of the Niger State Ministry of Justice, Shafa, described the judgment as a significant development that could serve as a precedent for the handling of similar cases in the future.
According to her, the victim’s mother initially considered withdrawing the case but later chose to allow the legal proceedings to continue after recognising the importance of seeking justice for the child and ensuring that the accused was held accountable.
The case has also renewed calls for parents, traditional leaders and community members to take stronger measures against child sexual abuse and promptly report suspected cases to the relevant authorities.
The Niger State Child Rights Agency maintained that the punishment goes beyond the individual offender, serving as a strong warning that anyone who abuses children will face serious consequences under the law.
