A 27-year-old man has been sentenced by a Nasarawa State High Court to 21 years imprisonment for raping a three-month-old baby.
The convict, Ahmadu Yaro of Adogi Village in Lafia local government area, was arraigned in May 2020 over the offence.
Delivering judgment in the case that has dragged for five years, Justice Aisha Bashir-Aliyu, described the act as “barbaric, demonic, and a direct attack on the moral conscience of society.”
The judge therefore sentenced Yaro to 21 years improvement with hard labour.
She averred that the sentence would serve as justice for the victim and a deterrence to others.
Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Isaac Danladi, who was personally present in court hailed the judgment.
“This ruling is not only a relief to the victim’s family but a clear message that Nasarawa State has zero tolerance for any form of sexual violence, especially against children. The judiciary has once again demonstrated its reliability and strength,” he stated.
LEADERSHIP reports that officials of the Nasarawa State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested Yaro on May 27, 2020, for sexually assaulting and brutally injuring the baby.
The victim was then rushed to the Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia, now Federal University Teaching Hospital.
After series of examination at the hospital, it was realised that the victim’s case was beyond the facility and was referred her to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State, for medical attention.
