Four men sentenced to 95 years for raping 13-year-old in Niger State

A senior magistrate court in Minna has sentenced four men to a total of 95 years in jail for gang-raping a 13-year-old girl in Kontagora, which left the girl pregnant.

The men convicted are Salisu Baura, Lawali Sha’ibu, Haruna Sa’idu, and Bello (surname not given). They all live in Kontagora town in Niger State. They were found guilty of joint act and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

On Thursday, Senior Magistrate Christy Barau described the crime as “animalistic, inhuman, and heartless.” She pointed out that rape cases, especially against minors, are increasing in Niger State and across Nigeria.

She said the court must be strict, as the punishment should warn others against such acts.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested the men in Kontagora. They were later taken to the state command headquarters for trial.

Court records show that the men took turns raping the 13-year-old girl in 2023. After the assault, they allegedly gave her N1,400. The girl later discovered she was pregnant from the rape.

They faced two charges: joint act under Section 97 of the Penal Code Law, and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under Section 26(1) of the Child Rights Law of Niger State, 2023.

The magistrate noted that the convicts initially confessed to the crime. But because of the serious nature of the charges, the court did not accept their guilty plea and continued with the trial.

The prosecution called three witnesses: the victim, her father, and an NSCDC officer who investigated the case. They presented five pieces of evidence, including video and written statements from the convicts, the victim's statement, a medical report showing penetration, and voice recordings.

The convicts did not provide a defence after the prosecution finished its case.

Defence lawyer Mohammed Jibrin Lemu asked for mercy, saying the accused showed remorse during the trial.

In her decision, Mrs Barau recognized their remorse but said it could not excuse their punishment for such a serious crime.

She sentenced the first, second, and third convicts to 20 years each for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and five years each for joint act.

The fourth convict, Bello, who was out on bail but is now missing, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

The sentences will run concurrently, giving a total of 95 years.

This case comes at a time when there are increasing worries about sexual violence against children in Niger State.

In February 2026, police arrested 10 suspects for raping and sexually assaulting minors in different parts of the state, including Kontagora.

The victims in those cases included children as young as three years old, with some cases involving unnatural offences against boys.

Reports have shown cases of very young girls being sexually abused, sometimes left abandoned after the attacks, and many of the offenders were supposed to protect these children.

Advocacy groups and officials have often called for stronger enforcement of child rights laws and quicker prosecution of sexual offenders.

Across Nigeria, many child rape cases go unreported due to stigma, family pressure, and weak responses from institutions, even as high-profile cases continue to surface.

Legal experts have criticized the slow justice process and light sentences in some sexual offence cases, which often encourage offenders.

The recent sentences in Minna are seen as a strong message from the judiciary in Niger State that serious crimes against minors will face harsh punishment.