From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, yesterday in Kano, condemned in very strong terms the deflowering of a 6-month-old baby girl, Miss Khadija Bahir by Alhaji Muktakar Muhammad, a suspected rapist.
The president’s wife, who was very bitter about the inhuman act, disclosed this while empathizing with the parents of the baby at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, where the baby is being treated.
Hajia Buhari, who visited the hospital, alongside the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wished the baby quick recovery, even as she expressed delight that the state government had taken all the necessary steps to ensure that the rapist was brought to book.
The baby was raped on February 3rd, 2017. Meanwhile, the suspect and his wife, Zainab Muktakar, aged 22, have been arraigned before a Kano magistrate court.
Speaking to journalists at the premises of the hospital, Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Ketso condemned the rape incident, and emphasized the determination of the state government to check the incidence of rape in the state, recalling that the state government had enacted a law that makes rape an offence that attracts life sentence upon conviction.
Speaking about the baby, Dr Ketso explained that the baby was initially admitted for a period of three weeks at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital.
“She was managed for rape, sepsis and malnutrition and subsequently, she was discharged after three weeks. She was discharged on the grounds that she had done very well on admission; the rashes that she came with were healed and she had become stable”
“After they had gone home with the baby, the baby developed fever and that is what led to taking her back to a private facility from where the child was referred to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
“She has been on admission for about two days now and right from the time she was admitted at the Murtala Mohammed Hospital up to the time she was brought here, the bill for her care is being taken care of by the Kano State government.
“One important thing is that the state government would do everything possible to see that the child gets well,” he said.
Earlier, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II paid a visit to the baby at the hospital. The monarch prayed for her quick recovery while condemning the act.
Meanwhile, there has been a widespread anger across the ancient city following the violation of the little baby.