Abused Minors: Lift Africa Foundation’s Justice Shield Initiative Secures 6 Convictions In Sokoto

In a major breakthrough for child protection in Northern Nigeria, the Justice Shield programme of Lift Africa Foundation has successfully secured six convictions from 15 cases filed in Sokoto State, targeting the sexual abuse of minors, including sodomy and rape.

The convictions, delivered by various courts in Sokoto State, underscored the growing effectiveness of strategic legal intervention in a region where sexual violence against children has often gone unpunished. Two of the perpetrators, Ibrahim Adamu and Abdullahi Bello, were sentenced to life imprisonment for rape. Other convicts received 21-year sentences for rape, while those found guilty of sexual harassment of underage girls were handed terms ranging from three to five-year imprisonment.

Barrister Aisha Hamman, Founder of Lift Africa Foundation and lead counsel in several of the cases, described the outcomes as a significant step toward ending impunity.

“These convictions send a clear and powerful message that the sexual abuse of minors will no longer be tolerated,” Hamman said.

“Through Justice Shield, we are not only securing justice for individual survivors but also strengthening the justice system’s response to these heinous crimes.”

The Justice Shield programme provides free, comprehensive legal representation to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including case preparation, court representation, and psychosocial support linkage. Out of the 15 cases filed in Sokoto State, the programme has so far achieved a 40% conviction rate — a remarkable achievement in a challenging legal and socio-cultural environment.

These latest convictions add to Lift Africa Foundation’s growing record of impact. The organisation continues to push for full domestication and effective implementation of child protection laws across Northern Nigeria while building the capacity of prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers to handle GBV cases professionally and sensitively.
Parents of the survivors, including one child with disability noted that the convictions have boosted their confidence to report cases, while serving as a strong deterrent to potential perpetrators.

The Foundation, through its Justice Shield initiative, said it remained committed to protecting the rights and dignity of women and children by ensuring that every survivor has access to quality legal support and that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.