By Umar Muhammed, Lafia
A High Court sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, has sentenced 27-year-old Ahmadu Yaro to 21 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for raping a three-month-old baby in Adogi village, Lafia Local Government Area.
Delivering the judgment, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir-Aliyu, described the crime as “barbaric, demonic, and a direct assault on the moral conscience of society.” She said the sentence would serve both as justice for the victim and as a stern warning to others with similar tendencies.
The heinous act, committed in 2020, sparked national outrage and led to a five-year legal battle that culminated in Tuesday’s conviction.
The Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Isaac Danladi, personally led the prosecution—a move widely hailed as a demonstration of commitment to justice.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr. Mohammed Nda-Yako, who was present in court, praised Danladi’s leadership, describing his role as “a symbol of unwavering dedication to the fight against sexual violence.”
Speaking to journalists after the verdict, Danladi applauded the ruling, stating: “This judgment sends a clear message—Nasarawa has zero tolerance for sexual violence. Justice has been served.”
He reiterated the commitment of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to protect victims and ensure strict prosecution of all cases of gender-based violence.
Yaro is to serve his sentence at a correctional facility within the state.