Police nab trader raping 12-year-old girl inside shop in Katsina

A 25-year-old trader, Bello Yaro, on Thursday, appeared before Senior Magistrates’ Court 6, Katsina for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl. Yaro, a resident of Karofi village in Dutsinma Local Government, is standing trial before Senior Magistrate Nafisa Bagiwa, on one-count charge of rape. The Prosecutor, Insp. Hashimu Musa told the court that the accused person committed the offence on June 20. He said that one Malam Auwalu Mamman of Karofi village reported the matter at the Dutsinma police station. According to him, the complainant informed the police that the accused had lured his daughter into his shop and raped her. Musa told the court that two people, Dahiru Muhammad and Surajo Isah, called the attention of the complainant and informed him that they saw the accused locking up his shop with the girl inside.
“The attention of the Police was immediately drawn and the accused was caught red-handed with the minor inside the shop and with his pant down to his knees,” the prosecutor told the court. He claimed that Yaro had confessed to the crime during police investigation, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of section 283 of the penal code. Musa said the matter was still under investigation and applied to the court for adjournment.
The magistrate said that the court would not take the plea of the accused as it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the case, adding that his arraignment was only for the purpose of taking cognizance. Bagiwa, therefore, ordered his case file to be transferred to the state Ministry of Justice for advice. She directed that the accused be remanded in prison custody till Aug. 2 when the case will come up for hearing.