The Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Kebbi State has arrested a 30-year-old, physically challenged man for allegedly raping 4 under-aged girls in Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi in the state capital.
Alhaji Lawal Augie, the Kebbi State Chairman of the group, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
He said the suspect was apprehended by the residents in the area while having canal knowledge of the girls.
“In the night of yesterday (Wednesday), we got a call from the District Head of Badariya area that; a physically challenged person was caught having carnal knowledge of the four under-aged girls. The girls were said to be hawking in that area” he said.
“We sent our men and the man was promptly arrested by neighbours and handed over to us for investigation.
“We have thereafter transferred the case to the State Hisbah Committee for necessary action”.
Augie said the suspect was reported to have been chased away from Jega Local Government Area for a similar crime before coming to Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of the same state.
He urged parents to monitor the movement of their children and stop girl-child from hawking.
One of the victims of the suspect said her contact with the man was in 2017 while hawking locally-made cake in Badariya area close to his house.
“As soon as he heard my voice, he called me into the house, held my hand and thereafter I became dizzy and I slumped” she said.
“He picked me up to his bedroom where he raped me. I reported the matter to my patents and my daddy threatened to take him to court”.
“Yesterday again when I saw him, he lured me into his room using similar tactics and raped me before he was caught.’’
The suspect told journalists that he was pushed into such act by the devil.
“I am from Jega Local Government Area and a trader by occupation.
“This is the first time I have been into this act and it is the devil that pushed me into the act,’’ he said.
In an interview, the District Head of Badariya, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi, blamed parents for allowing their children to hawk at the expense of acquiring education.
“It does not mean the suspect is right, but for allowing such girls to go out to hawk at the expense of going to school, their parents have their own bit of the blame,” Abdullahi added.