By ONYEJE ABUTU-JOEL

The Benue Police Command on Thursday, arraigned a 10-year-old boy before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for alleged sexual assault on a four-year-old girl.

The defendant, who lives at KM 14, Tyomu, Gboko Road, Makurdi is being charged with rape.

However, his plea was not taken when the case was mentioned for lack of jurisdiction.

The Magistrate, Mr P.A Ogwuche, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N20, 000 and a surety in the same amount.

Ogwuche adjourned the matter until Sept. 10 for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Jonah Uletu told the court that the case was initially reported at the ‘E’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, by the father of the victim, on May 30, 2026.

Uletu alleged that the complainant stated that his daughter told him that while playing with a friend on May 29, the defendant called her into a room, removed her pant and sexually assaulted her.

Uletu said police subsequently arrested the defendant for committing the alleged offence

He said the offence contravened Section 3(2)(a) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2019. (NAN)