A 43-year-old Islamic teacher, Mallam Nura Suleiman, has been arrested for allegedly molesting a three-year-old pupil, Isah Muaazu, in Suleja, Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
The teacher was apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state.
This was contained in a statement made available to the press by Command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Nasir D. Abdullahi in Minna.
According to Abdullahi, the command’s personnel on routine surveillance, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the suspect.
According to the statement, “The teacher was arrested on Friday, 19th January 2024 in Tsangaya Makaranta Mallam Umar, located behind Niger Motel, Suleja, Niger State and the victims were rescued as well.
“The molested child, Isah Mu’azu, from Kawo, Kaduna State, was rushed to the General Hospital Suleja, for urgent medical attention following the degree of injuries observed on his body and was admitted based on the magnitude of the injuries sustained.”
Four other rescued children, whom were in the care of Suleiman, were noticed with scars on their backs as another sign that the suspect had been molesting them.
The children include Khalipha Abdullahi, Salihu Suleiman, Mohammed Mu’azu and Ismaila Abdullahi, all from Kawo, Kaduna State.
The suspect and the victims have been handed over to the Niger State Child Rights Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed that at least two persons were injured in an explosion near the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.
It was gathered that the area was earlier thrown into panic following a loud sound that suggested an explosion in the area.
A statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer in the territory, SP Josephine Adeh, clarified that the incident occurred when refuse evacuators were setting fire to wastes in the area.
She said upon the sound of explosion, a rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were deployed to assess the situation.
The PPRO noted that initial investigations suggest that an overheated metal refuse container, triggered by intense heat, exploded, resulting in injuries to two of the refuse evacuators.
She said the victims are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.
“The FCT Police Command urges members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins.
“Instead, we recommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse containers,” the statement added.