Niger State is experiencing an alarming surge in rape cases, with victims as young as four years old being defiled by those who should protect them, according to recent reports from state authorities.

In a particularly disturbing case from Kontagora Local Government Area, a four-year-old girl was abducted from her family compound at night, sexually assaulted by multiple perpetrators, and abandoned at a refuse dump site in April 2025.

The victim's father, who spoke anonymously, recounted the horrific ordeal: "As soon as we noticed she was missing, we started searching for her with the help of neighbors in the night for hours. Neighbors discovered my little baby lying helplessly and unable to move on a dump site after the 5 am Muslim prayers."

"When we checked her, we saw blood stains between her legs, and further examination revealed that she had been raped to the point her organs were out," he added.

The child was initially taken to Kontagora General Hospital before being referred to a hospital in Sokoto State for specialized treatment. After two weeks of hospitalization, she was discharged but continues to receive medical care.

Rising Concerns and Limited Justice

Mary Isah, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, described gender-based violence (GBV) as "a great menace that needs to be addressed" as it "causes havoc, splits homes, removes peace from homes, and sends victims into depression."

According to Isah, while GBV affects both genders, women and children remain the most vulnerable. "Out of all the cases reported, more than half are from females, and a small fraction are from males. Probably due to ego, males find it difficult to report," she explained.

Mrs. Rachel Turakin, Director of Social Welfare Services at the Ministry, confirmed the high prevalence of rape cases in the state, particularly in Minna. She revealed that despite numerous ongoing cases, conviction rates remain low.

"We are dealing with several rape cases, but we have few convictions so far. Since we started, we have gotten about five convicted cases, although very minimal," Turakin stated. She added that approximately 114 cases are currently pending in various courts.

Barriers to Justice

Advocates point to several factors hindering justice for rape victims in Niger State. Many cases go unreported due to fear of stigmatization, lack of financial resources to pursue legal action, and other social pressures.

In response to these challenges, there are growing calls for stricter enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015, which criminalizes various forms of violence, including sexual assault and domestic abuse.

Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Shitu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, assured that the state government is committed to protecting GBV victims. "We urge victims of not only rape but any kind of GBV to speak out to ensure justice is served and get support," she emphasized.

Shitu confirmed that the four-year-old victim from Kontagora will be returning to Sokoto for a second surgery, with the state government covering her medical expenses.

The Ministry is also deploying social area officers to sensitize communities about the importance of reporting GBV cases to ensure perpetrators face appropriate legal consequences and to reduce the prevalence of such crimes in the state.