Illustration: a woman violated. Brutal Rape of minors on the rise in Funtua, Katsina

No fewer than 13 rape victims have been treated at Funtua General Hospital in Katsina State from January to date, the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Tijjani Bakori, has said.

Bakori said most of the cases were severe with victims requiring surgery in the hospital.

The medical director lamented that three of the rape victims were admitted by the hospital in the last four days.

“This signifies the magnitude of the problem in Funtua and environs, and it is important for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to address the menace.”

According to him, all the victims were below the age of 13 and mostly from less privileged families.

He noted that there was no presence of International and National Non Governmental Organizations in the area to support the victims, noting that respective families of the victims were left to shoulder the burden.

He urged the Katsina State Government and local councils in the area to ensure that the perpetrators were traced and severely punished.

“A victim was admitted on Monday, and another, aged 12, had undergone surgery in the hospital on Wednesday because of the severe injuries she sustained,’’ Bakori said.

The 12-year-old was raped by a security guard while the other victim, aged 13, was allegedly raped by her neighbour, one Dahiru Lawal in Bagari area of Funtua on April 12.

Mother of one of the victims said her daughter was sent to buy cooking oil when she was lured and raped by the security guard.

She said that the victim lost a lot of blood and had to receive blood transfusion at the hospital.

According to her, the suspect has a wife and three children.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Aminu Sadiq, did not respond to inquiries on the issue, but police sources in Funtua confirmed that some suspects had been arrested in connection to the 13 rape cases.