Suspected Ritualists rape 7 babies in Nassarawa

The Nasarawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, has arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Ahmadu Yaro, who allegedly raped a 3-month-old baby in Adogi village of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that in the space of one month, no fewer than six infants have reportedly been raped in the Adogi area of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Recall that the defiling of the 3-month-old baby, Rukayya Aliyu, on Wednesday, May 27, had drawn the attention of several security agencies.

Our correspondent, who visited the community after the incident, learned that there was also an attempt on a two-month-old baby a day after the latest incident.

It was gathered that the babies, mostly between 3 to 6-months-old, are found defiled and dumped at night within the premises of ‘pilot primary school’, a few meters outside the community.

Findings further revealed that many suspected kidnappers and armed robbers reside in the community, while suspected ritualists that play host to clients from different parts of the state and beyond also live there.

More checks revealed that the ritualists have organized a syndicate of locals that specializes in hunting for babies for sexual exploitation in the community.

Confirming the suspect’s arrest on Wednesday, the NSCDC state commandant, Gidado Fari, said the suspect would be arraigned before the court after concluding investigations.

The commandant added that the suspect had already confessed to the crime as well as raping five other victims in the village.

According to the commandant, two years ago the suspect was apprehended by the community for the same offence but was, however, discharged before involving security agencies.

“Ahmadu Yaro, the prime suspect, was arrested on 20062020 about 0328 hours and still under custody for further investigation.

“The suspect is believed to be a one-man gang claiming partial mental disorder which is not yet confirmed or established,” Mr Fari stated.

Although no arrest had been made, sources told our correspondent that some parents are often paid some money for their babies to be defiled by the ritualists.

Some of the locals who volunteer to offer information told DAILY NIGERIAN that the practice had been on for a long time, lamenting that oftentimes some personalities in the community hinder a proper investigation into the matter, even after an arrest of some criminals in the area.

The youth leader in the area, Isah Musa, told our correspondent that parents never wanted to report the incident to any security agencies but, rather, rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The wife of the Lafia Local Government Area chairman, Zainab Aminu-Maifatu, who confirmed the raping of six other new babies before the latest incident, promised that a full investigation would be launched to arrest the culprits.

“Angwan Yashi and Angwan Waje are worst hit. In fact, in some families two or more infant babies were defiled yet nothing happened,” the local told DAILY NIGERIAN in confidence