Kano Incessant Juvenile Defilements

Kano Incessant Juvenile Defilements

Ahmad Salisu

In the olden days, the name Kano normally ring a bell, well in depicting a civilized society that was known to be cultured, repulsive of all indecencies. The cultural antecedents of the people of Kano reveal that, their inclination to religious teachings are certainly regarded as the parameters that hold the societal values that mould and shapes the ethos and etiquettes within it, merely guiding the affairs of the state.

Many believed that the life of the people and the socio-economic as well as political development in Kano were not considered to be following the natural cause, but guided by certain forces. The fact that the political trend in Kano was always a metamorphosis of their renown political ideology of opposition deep engraved in their mindsets made it necessary for one to see and record its effect in both political and socio-economic dealings with the people in Kano. An average Bakano is self sufficient that allows him to respect his own dignity which paved way for respect for the dignity of others and further dignified.

Kano society has been depicted as a good example of typical multi-cultural society that harbour different socio-cultural affinity. This made it worthwhile in understanding of differences and may be responsible in orientation of the society towards discipline and ascertainment individual rights and responsibilities including that of a child. Any person opportune to be in Kano today will be wondering what kind of transformation has engulfed Kano that overtime this virtuous culture that the state is well known for, and the current rampart indecencies in the economic as well as social dealings of people in Kano. Is it the new political trend that rigger the shift, or other socio-economic factors.

Bye and large, the state has witnessed a tremendous decline in moral standards and adherence to social values. The fact that some analyst consider certain decadence to be as a result of rate of poverty that fast decreasing the standard of living of the people. Others satisfy themselves with casuistic reasoning to depend on in supporting their arguments. The basic question is what was the stand of the present administration under Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau on the issue of morality?

The answer to this question can only be justifiable by viewing the same question under different subheadings; ranging from rights, obligations to relationships of individual members of the society. This piece with form most on the relationship aspect with particular reference to Adult-child relationships. This kind of relationship has been socially acclaimed to be sympathetic as well as compassionate relationship because of the disparity in age.

Adult-child relationship has been found to be highly pathetic, over the years in Kano. Some incidents and testimonies depict series of inhumane abuses on children that could not only stir emotions, but draw stream of tears. Over the past years many abuses of under aged girl child has been recorded, incest, child sodomy and other various forms of abuses and evils were reported to have happened. The worst of it was that investigation revealed that no fewer than ten cases of such abuses were recorded in Kano between January to October 2008 alone. In the likes of such incidence was in March 2008, about the story of a father that has been committing incest with his two daughters.

Investigations gathered revealed that Auwalu Muhammed 45, of Yakasai quarters was found guilty of molesting his own biological teenage daughters. Hadiza Auwalu 14, and Aisha Auwalu 12; the extent that the former was impregnated and gave birth to a baby girl. Such cruelty made Hadiza to tell her mother amid tears “life is cruel to me, I am damned, I showed resistance but he forced me, where do I now put myself?” some people that spoke on the incidence decry on the plight of Hadiza and the likes of her that are yet to be uncovered. Others commented on the tendencies of aborting her education in exchange with unplanned motherhood.

The like manner of brutality against children was in the case of Sadiya, a 2 year old daughter of one Mallam Shu’aibu of Dorayi quarters in Gwale local government of Kano state. Sadiya was brutally beaten for indiscreet stooling by her own biological father, to the extent that she sustained horrible injuries. Mallam Shu’aibu who separated with Sadiya’s mother few years ago was arrested by the police in June 2008. The case was under police investigation as at he time of this report.

When contacted, by our source, the grandmother of Sadiya, Hajiya Amina Sabon Titi confessed that Sadiya’s brother a four year old boy has been receiving similar brutal flogging from their father. “We are already in court for an order to take the full custody of the children to their mother who is still a divorcee”. She lamented.

In another disgusting scenario, a grandfather who is regarded as second in guardianship in Kano cultural heritage was found to have joined the league of child molestation in the State. The old man Garba Bashir along with 3 other relatives Safiyanu, Babanna Buzu and Babanna Shu’aibu all residence of Faragai, a village few kilometers away from Kano were arrested by the police in June 2008 for allegedly abusing the sanctity of their 10 year old granddaughter by making her a sex slave, through continuous rotational sexual relationship on daily basis.

Aisha, informed our source that her grandfather lured her with N10 to have knowledge of her canal for the first time and later made it constant, before the 3 other suspects joined the league. All the four aged persons confessed to have a long sexual relationship with the little Aisha, but all claimed that it was in her instance, and that the affair was with the consent of little Aisha. In her response, Aisha was reported to have told her brother who became suspicious on her strange relationship with the suspects. “I was afraid to tell any one, because they threatened that if I informed anyone about the affairs, they will deal with me”. She said. Is the consent, of a 10 year old girl valid in deciding what to do in a relationship that involved grownup adults including her grandfather?

Other heart breaking story is that witnessed by the residents of Kofar Nassarawa quarters in Kano metropolis of an 80 year old pensioner that defiled 8 year old girl. Mallam Haruna Yakubu confessed to our source that, he uses his hands on the girl’s private part, but swear not to have used his manhood. And that was his first time of taking part in child abuse. Our source gathered that the incidence happened in March 2008 and was subsequently arraigned by the Police in Court 21 before magistrate Muntari Garba Dandago.

Similarly, one of the residents of Kofar Nassarawa maintained that “had Adamu not been quickly caught, he would have succeeded in raping the girls, the girl would have been dead by now, because his clear intent was to forcibly rape her” citing example that two years ago, two young men raped a girl of similar age in Kawaji quarters of Nassarawa local government Kano, and the girl died instantly. On the other angle the father of the girl said they noticed blood smeared around the girl groins, they took her to the hospital for medical examination and treatment. It was also confirmed that her hymen was actually ruptured.

What on earth could be attributed to such unholy and inhumane treatment of a child of 8 being oppressed and molested by an aged man of 80. What justification will grant compatibility in human, or even on machines? Are the machines invented 80 years ago compatible with those invented 8 years back? However, Baba 80, despite the odd and indecent crime he committed, still advised his likes and other people who commit adultery incest, sodomy, rape or any other sexual crimes that “they should stop, because it is an indecent act that might land a person into trouble. It was God that destined me to commit the act, but it is the devils handwork”.

Does the society needs the likes of Baba Adamu who at 80, instead of drawing nearer to God in order to serve as a model to the youth, is now bequeathing a parallel legacy that is in polarity with societal etiquettes. Is it auguring well with the societal call on societal re-orientation of Kano. Why was it so much rampart in the present day? Are the people of today distinct from that of yesterday? May be the State government will be in a better position to answer this questions.

Another report of cruelty on children was also uncovered in October 2008 at Zaria town in Kaduna State. But happened on a boy of Goya Village in Kano state who was sent to Funtua in Katsina State for (Karatun Allo) Koranic School. He later absconded to Zaria town where he made himself a scavenger and later trapped by one Abubakar Usman 25, selling fish. Rabiu Isah, 10, was lured into sodomy by Abubakar 25 after accepting him as his salesboy. According to our source, that Rabiu met one Hajiya Maryam and inform her of strange ailments and pains in his anus. She interrogated him and he confessed to having affair with Abubakar.

Abubakar was said to have confessed a long time sexual relationship with Rabiu, and was later reported to the Hisba command which subsequently led to his arrest by NAPTIP and was arraigned before Court in June 2008, on 4 count change contrary to section 309, 19(1), 13, and 22 (1). He was found guilty of all the charges by the presiding judge Babs Kuewumi and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each of the 3 count charges and three years imprisonment on fourth count charge respectively. Thereby ordered to spend 24 years in jail. Our source revealed that the jail terms commenced from the arraignment day 25th July 2008. with conditions of becoming a married man after the jail terms.

With the above typical instances coupled with numerous on the ground, one could easily deduced that the adult-child relationships in the present day Kano has been grossly violated. And such trends in societal life have certain repercussion. This is the question raised by our source to Ustaz Umar Sani, an Islamic Scholar based in Kano. The scholar described the development as fearful and bad sign to the community which profess Islam. In the like vein, some residents interviewed attributed the whole incidence as catastrophe that befell the society and must be arrested with payers, others lamented that it is a sign of the world coming to an end.

Others categorically blame the present administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau for not viewing its social responsibilities up to expectations; despite all the resources sunk in its societal re-orientation. “It is just another while elephant project used to decongest our treasury from blockage by the excess crude oil revenue” said by a resident of Kano.