Umar Ibrahim, the village head of Dan Gulam in Gwaram LGA of Jigawa State, is facing serious allegations, including rape, impregnation of a teenager, and infecting her with HIV.
The allegations came to light in a letter dated October 16, 2023, sent to the Secretary of the Dutse Emirate Council by Kabiru Abdullah, the Senior State Counsel in the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice.
The letter, titled “Notification of arraignment of Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of Dan Gulam) on the offense of rape contrary to Section 3 (1) (A and D) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021,” contains disturbing details.
The letter partly states, “I have been directed by the Attorney General of Jigawa State to write and notify Your Highness that a complaint of rape and infection with HIV was lodged at the Office of the Attorney General by one Ya’u Muhammad.”
It was alleged that Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of Dan Gulam) engaged the girl in illegal sexual intercourse, resulting in her pregnancy and infection with HIV.
Following the complaint, an investigation was initiated, during which Umar Ibrahim revealed that he had filed a case of defamation against the girl, her father, and one Sule Umar of Dan Gulam village before the Upper Shari’a Court in Gwaram.
Subsequently, the case was transferred to the CID in Dutse for further investigation.
After a thorough inquiry by the CID, the Ministry of Justice provided legal advice, revealing a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy and rape against Umar Ibrahim.
The shocking aspect of this case is that Umar Ibrahim, the accused, holds the position of Village Head of Dan Gulam in Gwaram LGA, which has raised significant concerns within the community and beyond.
Despite appeals and the state government’s involvement through the attorney general’s office, there are reports of pressure on the emirate to downplay the issue.
In response to the situation, the family of the girl has called on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to intervene and ensure justice is served while also saving the girl’s life.
In a telephone interview with Daily Trust, Umar Ibrahim denied the allegations, claiming that the initial case was related to a land dispute with his district head.
He alleged that he was being falsely accused and maintained that he did not know the girl in question.
When asked about his HIV status, he admitted to being HIV positive for the past 10 years, which he attributed to marrying an infected widow, suggesting that this information was being used to frame him falsely.
As the case continues to unfold, the community and authorities have been left to grapple with the disturbing allegations and the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
