A 16-year-old girl in Lufari, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State was already about six months pregnant before the matter was reported to authorities.

 

 

The case is now under investigation involving allegations of incest, which is raising child protection concerns within the family.

 

The suspect is her 64-year-old grandfather, Musa Gado, who is currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

 

 

How the case was reported

 

The case was first reported on October 5, 2025, by the victim’s father, Lawali Na’ababa, alongside a community leader.

 

 

Speaking during an interview, the Director General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Barrister Ulmulkatum Mohammed, said the matter initially appeared to be a family issue before it escalated into a criminal investigation.

 

She said the girl was immediately taken into protective custody after the report was received.

 

The DG also confirmed that the teenager later gave birth to a baby boy in December 2025.

 

 

The victim’s account (as relayed by the DG)

 

According to the Director General, the victim gave the following account:

 

“Musa Gado, who is my kaka (grandfather), called me and his daughter into his room and gave me money to buy food. The first time he did it, he told me not to tell anyone. From then on, he kept calling me to his room and I have lost count of how many times it happened.”

 

The DG said the statement was recorded as part of the agency’s documentation of the case.

 

She added that the account suggests repeated incidents, though the exact number could not be established.

 

Allegation of coercion after disclosure

 

Barrister Mohammed said the victim also alleged that after attempts to terminate the pregnancy failed, she was taken and beaten in an effort to force her to change her statement.

 

According to her, the girl was pressured to attribute responsibility to someone other than her grandfather.

 

She said this development was among the factors that led the victim’s father and community leader to formally report the matter to the agency.

 

Allegations within the home

 

The Director General said the suspect, who has four wives, allegedly used different pretexts, including offering money for food, to gain access to the girl on several occasions.

 

She also confirmed that the suspect initially admitted to the allegations during questioning but later withdrew his statement.

 

Attempts to terminate the pregnancy

 

The DG revealed that there were attempts to terminate the pregnancy after it became known.

 

According to her, the girl was taken to a clinic in Konan Mariga, where she received medication and injections. The attempt was unsuccessful.

 

DNA test and dispute

 

Mohammed said a DNA test was conducted in Gwagwalada to determine paternity.

 

She said the test was funded by the suspect at a cost of N500,000.

 

The result showed a 99.99 per cent probability of paternity when opened in the presence of both parties.

 

The suspect has rejected the findings and is preparing to challenge them in court. No formal case has been filed as of press time.

 

Medical outcome and psychological impact

 

The DG confirmed that the girl was unable to deliver naturally and later underwent a cesarean section, giving birth to a baby boy.

 

She also said the victim began experiencing psychological distress after delivery and is currently receiving care and support.

 

Agency response and pressure on the case

 

The lawyer said the agency remains focused on protecting the child and ensuring due process in the case.

 

She said the institution had faced different forms of pressure since the matter became public, but insisted it will not affect its handling of the investigation.

 

“Our focus is the protection of the child and ensuring that justice is served. We are receiving all kinds of pressure, but we will continue to do our work,” she said.

 

Wider context: sexual violence in Nigeria

 

The case sits within a broader national pattern of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

 

Between 2020 and 2023, Nigeria recorded 27,698 cases of sexual and gender-based violence, according to official data.

 

UNICEF has warned that many cases of child sexual abuse occur within homes and are often under-reported.

 

Rights groups also note that conviction rates remain low despite rising reports.

 

Legal position

 

The State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council and Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barrister Bolanle Jibogun, said the DNA result strengthens the case.

 

She said the allegations of incest and rape were very serious offences under Nigerian law, adding that due process must take its course.

 

“We were praying the result would be negative, but now that it is positive, the law must take its course,” Barrister Jibogun said.

 

Expert view

 

A Gender and Women Studies scholar at Newgate University, Minna, Dr. Hope Ajayi, said the case reflects abuse within a family power structure.

 

She said consent cannot exist in such circumstances and warned of long-term psychological consequences for survivors.

 

“The culprit must be dealt with as long as there is a criminal offence, whether it is the father, grandfather, uncle, or anybody.

 

“Communities must not look the other way when things are going wrong around them. There should be mandatory channels for people, especially minors, to report when their rights are being trampled,” Ajayi added

 

Civil society reaction

 

A civil society actor, Olasukanmi Kalejaiye, Project Director of Global Promoters for Community Initiatives, said cases like this were often hidden until pregnancy forced disclosure.

 

He said delayed reporting remains a major challenge in responding to sexual violence cases.

 

“By the time they come out, the damage is already deep and that is why they need to speak out on time,” he advocated.

 

Survivor perspective

 

A survivor, identified as Amaka (not real name), said victims are often silenced by fear, shame, and family pressure.

 

She said many are instructed to keep such cases private, which allows abuse to continue unchecked.

 

“It happened to me and today, I have a fifteen year old child for my own father,” the victim disclosed.

 

She called for a stronger listening system and protective mechanisms for children, stressing that no child should have to endure such experiences in the society.

 

Beyond the courtroom

 

For authorities, the case is now a matter for criminal prosecution. For advocates, it exposes deeper systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children.

 

But beyond legal arguments and institutional responses lies a more difficult reality: a child’s life has already been permanently altered.

 

A DNA result has been read. A baby has been born. And while the court will determine guilt or innocence, it cannot reverse what has already happened.