Security guard arrested for allegedly assaulting 10-year-old girl at Kebbi Islamiyya school

A 36-year-old security guard has been arrested for allegedly luring a 10-year-old girl into his room at an Islamiyya school in Kebbi State — and the case is once again raising tough questions about how safe children really are in religious learning centres.

The Kebbi State Police Command said it arrested Faruku Muhammed on Wednesday. The commissioner of police, Umar Hadejia, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi that the incident happened on 14 June at about 4:30 p.m.

According to Hadejia, Muhammed worked as a security guard at the Islamiyya school in Jega Local Government Area. He allegedly called the girl into his room inside the school premises and assaulted her.

The arrest came after a complaint was filed with the police. Hadejia said the case is under investigation and will be prosecuted.

This isn't an isolated incident. Across Nigeria, child rights advocates have been warning for years that informal schools — especially Islamiyya and other religious centres — often lack basic child-protection policies. Many don't do background checks on staff. Many have no clear reporting system if a child is abused.

Formal schools have slowly started adopting safeguarding rules. But experts say the vast majority of informal learning centres still operate without any real oversight. That leaves children vulnerable in places where they're supposed to be safe.

The Kebbi case has brought those concerns back into the spotlight.

"The case is under investigation and will be prosecuted accordingly," Hadejia said.

Child rights organisations have consistently pushed for stronger oversight. They want school owners — whether formal or informal — to screen anyone who works with children. They also want clear channels for reporting abuse, so victims and their families know where to go.

Hadejia urged parents and guardians to report cases of abuse and exploitation quickly. He said the police command is committed to protecting children and other vulnerable people.

The police briefing also covered other recent operations in the state. Officers arrested suspected members of Boko Haram-linked groups and suspected Lakurawa bandits. They also arrested people accused of helping criminals with logistics.

In a separate operation, police rescued a kidnapped woman in Birnin Kebbi. They also recovered a stolen vehicle through cooperation with other state police commands. Illegal firearms were seized in multiple operations.

Hadejia credited the successes to collaboration between security agencies, vigilante groups, the Civilian Joint Task Force, and local communities.

But for many Nigerians, the arrest of a school security guard for allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl is the story that hits closest to home. It's a reminder that the people trusted to protect children can sometimes be the ones who harm them — and that the systems meant to catch them often fail.