EXPOSED: Jigawa Monarch Rapes, Impregnates, Infects Girl With HIV

The Village Head of Dan Gulam in Guaram local government area of Jigawa State, Umar Ibrahim, is facing serious allegations of rape, impregnation, and infecting a young girl, known as Hanatu Yahaya (pseudonym), with HIV.

These disturbing accusations were outlined in a letter dated October 16, 2023, addressed to the Secretary of Dutse Emirate Council at the Dutse Emir’s Palace. The letter was sent by Kabiru Abdullah, Esq., a Senior State Counsel in the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice, and it is titled “Notification of Arraignment of Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of DanGulam) on the Offense of Rape, Contrary to Section 3 (1) (A and D) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.”

Investigations have uncovered that there was significant pressure on the emirate to suppress the matter, despite appeals and intervention by the State Government through the Attorney General’s office.

According to the letter, the accused, Umar Ibrahim, had initiated a defamation of character lawsuit against the girl, her father, and one Sule Umar of Dangulam village before the Upper Shari’a Court Gwaram. However, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Jigawa State Police Command’s investigation established allegations of criminal conspiracy and rape against Umar Ibrahim.

The letter states, “I have been directed by the Hon. Attorney General of Jigawa State to write and notify your Highness that a complaint of rape and infection with HIV Virus was lodged at the Office of the Hon. Attorney General by one Ya’u Muhammad ‘m’, in which he alleged that Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of Dan Gulam) had engaged his daughter in an illegal sexual intercourse which resulted in her pregnancy and infected her with HIV.”

“After the investigation by the Police at State CID, the case diary was sent to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice. The legal advice was given and it revealed that prima facie cases of criminal conspiracy and rape were made against Umar Ibrahim, who, to the Hon. Attorney General’s greatest dismay, is a traditional leader as the village head of Dan Gulam, Gwaram Local Government Area, Jigawa State.”

In light of these findings, the Hon. Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice directed the notification to the Emirate Council for appropriate steps to be taken.

Meanwhile, the family of the affected girl is urgently seeking the intervention of civil society and non-governmental organizations to safeguard the girl’s well-being and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the provisions of the VAPP Law 2021 of Jigawa State.