The Bauchi State Police Command announced on Wednesday the apprehension of a 23-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a mentally challenged 10-year-old boy whose identity remains confidential.
According to Ahmed Wakil, the command’s spokesperson, Sanusi Umar was detained by operatives of Operation Restore Peace in the state. Umar allegedly enticed the victim with a N30 sweet, persuading him to accompany him to an isolated area behind the AIB filling station along Kofar Ran under the pretense of needing to defecate.
"After the defecation, the suspect asked the victim to undress his trousers and grabbed the victim from behind, leading to him having carnal knowledge," Wakil stated.
The victim promptly reported the incident to the filling station manager, revealing that the suspect had taken advantage of him. Investigations uncovered that the suspect, originally from Jingino village in the Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, had been selling garden eggs at the AIB filling station for about two years.
Wakil added that the suspect exploited the victim's mental condition to commit the crime.
The victim was taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital alongside the suspect for health assessments.
"Investigations are ongoing, and the suspect will be prosecuted upon completion," Wakil concluded.
