Plateau School Sodomy Scandal: Police Move Case To State CID As Suspects’ Parents Push For Bail

The Plateau State Police Command has transferred the investigation into allegations of repeated sexual abuse of nursery pupils at a Local Education Authority Primary School in Gangare community to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The development comes amid concerns that parents of the alleged perpetrators are pushing for their release on bail, despite claims that they have been informed of the outcome of physical examinations conducted on the suspects at the Police Clinic.

Sources within the school, including parents and teachers, told SaharaReporters that the local police division had concluded its preliminary investigation before forwarding the case file to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department.

One of the sources confirmed the development, saying, “The case has been transferred to State CID. After preliminary investigation by the local division, the case file was forwarded to the office of DCCID for further actions.”

The source, however, expressed concern over efforts allegedly being made by the suspects’ parents to secure their release.

“However, the parents of the suspects, despite hearing clearly the results of physical examination conducted at the Police Clinic, are so bent on bailing the suspects out,” the source added.

The transfer follows an earlier investigation by SaharaReporters, which exposed allegations that younger pupils, including children aged four and six, had repeatedly been sexually abused by older male pupils at the school.

The alleged incidents reportedly involved children in Nursery 1 and Nursery 2 and were said to have occurred over a period beginning in 2024.

Three suspects were identified in the investigation as Mustapha, 15; Sinan, 14; and Mubarak, approximately 25 years old.

A teacher reportedly told SaharaReporters that one of the suspects confessed to repeatedly abusing the younger pupils, adding that he had allegedly been introduced to the acts by an older pupil who was previously expelled from the school over similar allegations.

The investigation also raised questions about the handling of earlier complaints by school authorities and community leaders.

Some parents and teachers alleged that previous reports were taken to the community head rather than formally referred to law enforcement agencies and relevant child-protection authorities.

They further claimed that meetings were held involving school officials and parents, during which participants were allegedly instructed to keep the matter away from public attention.

However, sources alleged that further incidents were subsequently reported, raising concerns that the alleged abuse continued despite earlier complaints.

The latest transfer of the case to the State CID is expected to provide an opportunity for a more comprehensive investigation into the allegations, including the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents and the handling of previous complaints.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters said efforts to obtain the reaction of the school’s headmistress, identified as Mrs Mary, were unsuccessful, as she neither answered telephone calls nor responded to text messages.

The Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, also reportedly failed to respond to calls and a message seeking clarification on the investigation and the status of the suspects.

The identities of the children allegedly abused were withheld to protect their privacy.

The police have yet to publicly provide details of their investigation or announce any formal charges in connection with the allegations.

.....