AIG Zone 15 Command, Mr Abdu Umar
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
A primary school teacher with Goldeen Olive Academy Maiduguri, Ms. Anty Zara has been arrested by the police for alleged rape of her pupil, a 4-year-old girl (name withheld) during school hours within the school premises.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect has been in police custody undergoing interrogation by the GRA Divisional Police Station since 11th November, 2022.
But Anty Zara, knowing fully well of the gravity of her alleged offence was said to have been released on bail by the Investigation and Prosecution Officer (IPO) of the GRA Police Station, IPO Ajid to some lawyers without the consent and approval of the DPO and State Commissioner of Police.
The father of the victim, Malam Hassan Baba at a press briefing held today at the NUJ Press Center Maiduguri, could not hide his feelings and concern, stressing that the CP Abdu Umar, who on getting the news of the case and bail, frowned at the manner in which the case was handled by the Divisional Police station.
“He instantly order for the transfer of the case to Borno Command Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and re-arrest of the suspect and her continuous detention at the CID as well as further Investigation on the matter.
“At the Borno Police Command CID, the officer handling the case, IPO Christy and the suspect are currently being interrogated, while the small girl was taken to Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital Bulumktutu Maiduguri for SARC which testified that the small girl was raped for having scratches and wound in private part (clitoris and vagina) indicating somebody tempered with her organ,” Hassan said.
While on their part, the school authority of the Goldeen Olive Academy has earlier claimed that its teacher, Anty Zara is innocent and did not commit such crime or offence, according to the school lawyer.
He said the police has insisted that the medical report from the hospital still stand vital and evidence in the case even at any competent court of law like High Court or Appeal Court but not Magistrate Court where the school lawyer persuaded the police to file the case for hearing.
“The suspicion of the case to be rubbished and the suspect to be released on bail by the police triggered my decision to approach the NUJ to voice out my complaints and concern to seek for justice for my beloved and innocent nursery school daughter.
“I’m making an appeal for due process and public intervention on the matter,” Hassan said.
He further added that: “What baffles me the most is the manner my daughter was asked to confessed that she fell from a wheel chair at their school playground and got injured on her private part and not to say that her class teacher cuddled, gave her breasts to suck and inserted finger in her private part”.
Hassan also expressed fear that his daughter is in danger likewise his safety is in doubt because of his boldness to take the matter to the police and stand to see that the case is taken to court for prosecution and for justice for the innocent small girl and to curtail future occurrence of such devilish act by any teacher in any school.
