Following the passage of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act Gombe State Government on Monday vowed to ensure justice over the rape of two-year-old girl by her stepfather.
47-year-old Mohammed Magaji, stepfather to the survivor was reported by his wife, Hauwau Usman that her husband took his step daughter to his room and raped the minor.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Buhari Abdullahi, in a statement obtained by our correspondent noted that upon the receipt of the complaint, a team of policemen was drafted to the scene and arrested Magaji.
“The survivor was rushed to specialist hospital for medical attention.
the case will soon be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” he added.
Leading a delegation of government officials to Jauro Abare Zirin Gaza, residence of the survivor, and Gombe State Police command, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, decried the act promising that punitive measures will be meted.
She disclosed that the state has enacted the Child Protection law, and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, stressing that impunity would not be tolerated.
“We heard about the rape of a two-year-old girl and the governor is unhappy about it. He has asked us to visit and assure the family of government’s support.
“The state has enabling laws like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act with sanctions, the step father will face justice; the law allows for life imprisonment of offenders,” Iganus stated.
Continuing the Commissioner noted that aside life imprisonment which the law allows, 14 years is also tenable, “I came to the command as a follow up to the current GBV survivor, I had visited the mother. Raping a minor is life imprisonment; the least is 14 years imprisonment. We trust that the judiciary, police will do their best, so that he (suspect) can be charged for the offence he has committed.”
