A 24-year-old man, Usman Mohammed Iyal, has confessed to police that he raped a 16-year-old girl and attempted to conceal his crime by throwing her into a well in Ambassadors Quarters, Katsina State.
In a statement made during his parade at the Katsina State Police Command headquarters, Iyal admitted, “Because I didn’t want her to expose me.” His heinous act was thwarted when police launched a rapid investigation and rescue operation, ultimately saving the victim from the well unharmed.
The incident occurred on September 27, 2024, as the young girl was sent on an errand by her mother. According to the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, Iyal, armed with a knife, accosted and threatened the victim before dragging her into an uncompleted building, where he violently assaulted and raped her.
ASP Sadiq recounted, “In a desperate bid to conceal his crime, the suspect threw the victim into a nearby well and hurled stones into it, intending to kill her. After her disappearance was reported by her father, Abdullahi Sabitu, at the GRA Divisional Police Headquarters, our swift action led to a successful rescue operation and the arrest of the suspect.”
The victim is currently receiving medical treatment.
Additionally, on September 19, 2024, authorities arrested Binta Muhammed, 35, from Lungun Loma quarters, Dutsinma LGA, for suspected child cruelty. The police responded to a report that she had cruelly tied and locked a two-year-old boy in a room. Officers found the boy, named Abdulmajid Shafi’u, tied with a wrapper and quickly ensured he received medical attention.
During the investigation, Muhammed confessed to the allegations and will face court proceedings upon the investigation’s conclusion.
On September 25, 2024, three men, Sabi’u Hassan (34), Isiya Salisu (30), and Aliyu Haruna (20), were apprehended in connection with vandalism and theft. Police, along with vigilante members, intercepted the suspects in possession of stolen electric armored cable and burglary tools.
All suspects have confessed to their crimes, and efforts are being made to apprehend additional accomplices still at large as investigations continue.
