Mamman Shettima Baba has been arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday for allegedly assaulting a young schoolgirl for plucking mangoes in the Pompomari Housing Estate, Maiduguri.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the suspect repeatedly flogging the girl with a thick stick while his wife recorded the act, urging him to continue.
Witnesses said the girl and her friends were returning from school when they entered an open compound to pick mangoes. Some Almajiri children in the area reportedly caught one of the girls and handed her over to a woman in the house, who then instructed her husband to punish her.
The NSCDC confirmed the arrest, with Borno State Commandant Abdulrazaq Haroon stating that preliminary investigations revealed the suspect admitted to the assault. He reportedly justified his actions by claiming students frequently trespassed to pluck mangoes from his tree.
Legal practitioner Hamza Nuhu Dantani has petitioned the Borno State Commissioner of Police, calling for the immediate prosecution of the suspect. The petition outlined charges including culpable homicide (attempted), assault, criminal intimidation, and causing grievous hurt.
Dantani also demanded a full investigation to identify and prosecute any accomplices, medical and psychological support for the victim, and a public awareness campaign against child abuse.
Borno State Commissioner of Education, Lawan Abbah Wakilbe, visited the NSCDC command and commended officers for their swift response. He assured the public that justice would be served. The Commissioner of Justice also vowed to take legal action against the suspect.
Observers say past human rights abuse cases in Borno have often failed to reach a logical conclusion due to political influence, pressure on victims, or social stigma. Many believe this case will be a test of the justice system’s ability to ensure accountability for child abuse.
