The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has lauded the 21-year imprisonment handed down to Ahmadu Yaro, who raped a three-month-old baby in Adogi village, Nasarawa.

Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, in a statement on Tuesday, described the judgment by Justice Aisha Bashir-Aliyu, the chief judge of Nasarawa, as a courageous and vital step in protecting the most vulnerable members of society, children.

“This judgment is a commendable affirmation of the justice system’s role in safeguarding our children,” she said.

The minister, while commending the leadership shown by the chief judge, said the commitment of the Nasarawa attorney general, Isaac Danladi, symbolised institutional seriousness in tackling sexual and gender-based violence.

She also thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating an environment that enables justice to be served. According to her, the ruling reflects a broader commitment by the state to uphold the safety and dignity of women and children.

“The verdict is not only a victory for the victim’s family but a powerful statement that impunity will not be tolerated in Nasarawa State,” she said.

The minister emphasised the importance of enforcing the Child Rights Act, which has been domesticated across all 36 states. She underscored the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of child abuse are held accountable and that survivors receive appropriate care and support.

She emphasised that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, acts of violence against children and women would no longer be ignored or minimised.

“Justice will be visible, survivor-focused, and unrelenting,” she said.

Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim, therefore, urged all states to adopt Nasarawa’s proactive stance and called on families, communities, law enforcement, and the judiciary to unite in proactive measures.

“Let each of us intensify our vigilance and action to protect children, reporting abuses and ensuring zero tolerance for perpetrators across Nigeria,” she stated. “Let this ruling serve as a turning point,” she concluded. “A signal to all offenders that Nigeria will no longer shield those who violate her children.”

Ms Bashir-Aliyu, in her judgment, described the act as “barbaric, demonic, and a direct attack on the moral conscience of society.”

She said the sentence would serve as justice for the victim and a warning to others. The child rape, which happened in 2020, sparked nationwide outrage and has now culminated in a conviction after five years of legal proceedings.

Mr Yaro will serve the jail term without the option of a fine.

(NAN)