A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Minna, Niger State, on Monday August 17, sentenced two brothers, Hassan Bilyaminu and Abdullahi Biliyaminu, who are Islamic clerics, to 22 years imprisonment for raping four girls who were students in their Islamic school in Minna, the state capital.

The suspects were arrested earlier this month and were dragged to the court by the police on two counts charges which include sexual assault and act of gross indecency.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) which was read in court by the Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Bello Mohammed, the offenses committed by the suspects were punishable under Section 285 of the penal code law, as well as Section 19 (2) of the Child’s Right Law of Niger State, 2010.

The charge sheet read;

“That on the 2nd of August, 2020, one Lawal Idris of Tudun Nasira Area of Maitumbi in Minna, represented three others, and reported that on 31st of July, 2020, you Hassan Bilyaminu and Abdullahi Bilyamiu lured four of the girls whose ages ranges between 6 and 11 years-old pupils of your Islamiya, into your house and used your finger to rub and inserted it into the minors’ vagina one after the other.

“During the police investigation, you confessed to the commission of the crime. You are hereby suspected to have committed the above offenses.”

The suspects pleaded guilty to the charges and appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy. They claimed the devil pushed them to commit the crime.

In delivering her judgement, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Hauwa Baba Yusuf, wondered what rapists derived from assaulting and defiling little girls, saying that it should no longer be condoned.

“One wonders what people like the convicts derived from assaulting and defiling little girls. This has gone berserk; there must be more to this pandemic of sexual assault on little children.” the judge said.