The Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQA) on Friday, has closed two Islamiyah schools indefinitely over alleged rape of a six-year-old girl and impregnating of another.
One of the schools, Madrasatul Ulumul Deeniya wa Tahfizul Qur’an, located in Rigasa, was shut down after a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the school premises.
The other Islamiyah school, located at Tsohon Masallacin Juma’a in Kachia, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State was closed after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly impregnated by a 50-year-old teacher at the school.
The school in Rigasa was shut down by the Overseer of the KSSQA, Mr Idris Aliyu. He revealed that the six-year-old girl was raped in the school and the school authority covered it up and claimed ignorance of the incident.
According to Aliyu, the victim’s grandmother complained about the incident to the school authority but ended up being beaten by the students and teachers of the Islamiyah.
He also said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai had given orders for the Islamiyah to be shut down indefinitely until investigation is concluded and the culprit arrested.
“The headmaster of the school would be held responsible for the act until all persons in the school were profiled and the perpetrator identified by the survivor and prosecuted,” he said.
“The individuals responsible for the violence against the grandmother, especially the headmaster, will also be prosecuted.”
“This is in line with the state government’s responsibility in protecting the vulnerable population in the state,” he said.
However, on his part, the head-teacher of the school, Malam Kabir Abdullahi, has denied the allegation, saying “it is not a rape. What we gathered is that an unidentified boy injured the girl in her private part with a stick.”
Abdullahi said that the case was currently under investigation by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Rigasa, ASP Abubakar Bauranya.
The DPO confirmed receiving the case the way it was narrated by the headteacher of the Islamiyah school.
But the grandmother of the girl, Hajiya Batul Gambo insisted that her grandchild was violated and had been confirmed by Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital Tudun Wada, Kaduna.
A medical report signed by Dr A Raji also backed Gambo’s claim that the six-year-old was raped.
According to Raji’s report, she was bleeding due to “virginal bruising of the labia minora, bilaterally periurethral bruising, heamatoma of the clitoris and laceration of the hymen.”
Concerning the rape and impregnation of the 12-year-old girl in Kachia, Aliyu said that the she was six months pregnant.
The school was shut down as well, as the safety of the pupils cannot be guaranteed.
He explained that the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba and the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Halima Lawal would work closely with the police to investigate and ensure justice is done.
“Meanwhile, the two schools will remain closed until investigations are concluded and the culprit prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
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