9-year-old girl raped to death in Jos

A nine-year-old girl, Fatima Abubakar of Anguwan Layin Isyaku gwabna of Jos North local Government Area of Plateau State, was on Thursday, reportedly raped and killed in the area.

The incident, according to the parents of the victim occurred around 11:00am while she was on her way to buy groundnut oil for the family but was intercepted, raped and killed.

Her elder sister, Hafsat Abubakar, who went out in search of Fatima, said the body of her sister was found hanging.

She said, “I was asked to go out and look for her whereabouts after she stayed out for hours and could not return home. I followed the road leading to where she was supposed to buy groundnut oil. On my way, jokingly, I started calling her name - Fatima - Fatima. Unexpectedly, when I turned to my right, I saw her hanging in a dilapidated building. I then ran and called my father, who untied her and took her home.”

The mother of the victim, Sa’adatu Shehu, described the demise of her daughter as unfortunate and called on security agencies to investigate the matter and arrest the perpetrator of the act.

“I was touched by the incident. I am not happy at all. Whoever is guilty of this heinous act should be treated the same way he treated my daughter. I will not forgive him. He should be killed. I want justice for my daughter,” she said.

Residents and other sympathisers at the house of the deceased also called on security agencies to track down the perpetrators of the act and bring him to book so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred confirmed the development, explaining that “Police is aware of the incident. One person has been arrested. Investigation into the matter is ongoing.”