The Ministry of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has hailed as a landmark judgment, the 21-year prison sentence handed to Ahmadu Yaro, convicted of raping a three-month-old baby in Adogi village, Nasarawa State.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in a statement on Tuesday, called the ruling by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir-Aliyu, a courageous and necessary step to protect the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

“This judgement is a commendable affirmation of the justice system’s role in safeguarding our children,” the minister said.

She praised Justice Bashir-Aliyu’s leadership and acknowledged the symbolic presence of the state’s Attorney General, Isaac Danladi, in court as a sign of institutional resolve against sexual and gender-based violence.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim also commended Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for fostering an environment where justice can prevail, describing the verdict as a victory not just for the victim’s family but for the principle that impunity will not go unchecked.

She stressed the importance of enforcing the Child Rights Act, already domesticated in all 36 states, and reaffirmed her ministry’s dedication to holding perpetrators accountable and supporting survivors.

“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, acts of violence against children and women will no longer be ignored or minimised. Justice will be visible, survivor-focused, and unrelenting,” she declared.

The minister urged other states to emulate Nasarawa’s example and called on families, communities, law enforcement, and the judiciary to unite in making Nigeria safer for children.

“Let this ruling serve as a turning point — a signal to all offenders that Nigeria will no longer shield those who violate her children,” she said.