50-year-old man nabbed for ‘raping a toddler’

The police in Niger state has arrested Adebayo Attahiru, a 50-year-old man, for allegedly raping a three-year-old baby.

Bala Elkana, police public relations officer in the state, disclosed this to reporters in Minna, the state capital, on Thursday.

Elkana said the incident occurred last Friday.

“Investigation into the case has commenced and the law must take its course,’’ Elkana said.

He advised parents and guardians not to leave their wards where they could not guarantee their safety.

A witness, who pledged anonymity, told journalists that Attahiru raped the toddler when she was left sleeping on her mother’s bed.

The source said the mother of the little girl had left her to go to the market, not knowing that her neighbour had ulterior motive towards her baby.

“As soon as the woman left, Adebayo Attahiru sneaked into the room where the baby was sleeping and forcefully had sex with her,” the source said.

Another witness and a friend to the victim’s mother, said the accused could have applied some grease on his private part to make penetration easy, but he did not.

She said the cry of the little girl attracted other neighbours to the room where they found blood splashed all over the room.

The woman said before neighbours could get to the room, the suspect had run away but neighbours caught him and handed him to the police.

She said the suspect was subsequently handed over to the Women and Child Protection Unit of the Police at the Paiko road police station, which is now investigating the matter.

The accused was initially detained at the Paiko road police station, but has been moved to the state police headquarters for more interrogation.