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Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man for raping and throwing a 16-year-old girl into a well in Katsina Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, while parading the suspect alongside other suspected criminals yesterday, said he was nabbed on 17 September in Ambassadors’ quarters.

He said the suspect accosted and threatened the victim who was on errand with knife before dragging her into an uncompleted building where he “violently assaulted and raped” her.

In a desperate bid to conceal his crime, he said the suspect threw the victim into a nearby well and hurled stones down the well, with intent to murder her, but she was rescued and taken to hospital by police operatives.

Aliyu said: “On September 27, 2024, at about 1216hrs, the Katsina State Police Command succeeded in arresting a suspected rapist for the brutal assault and attempted murder of a 16-year-old girl in Ambassadors quarters, Katsina. “The victim was sent on an errand by her mother when the suspect, one Usman Mohammed Iyal, m, age 24 of Ambassadors quarters, armed with a knife, accosted, threatened, and dragged her into an uncompleted building where he then violently assaulted and raped the victim.”

He added:“Upon the victim’s disappearance, her father Abdullahi Sabitu, reported the incident at the GRA divisional police headquarters, leading to swift action. 

“An investigation was immediately launched, successfully rescued the victim from the well and arrested the suspect. The victim is currently receiving medical attention, and investigation is currently ongoing.”

He said the suspect would be charged to court for  rape, assault and attempted murder after preliminary investigation by police in the state.