By Abasi Ita
A 65 year old man, Musa Gado, has been taken into police custody in Niger State over allegations that he impregnated his 16 year old granddaughter.
The development was confirmed by the Director General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Kaltume Mohammed, during a briefing with journalists in Minna.
According to her, the case was first reported in October 2025 by the victim’s father, who accused the suspect of repeatedly abusing the teenager. At the time the complaint was lodged, the girl was already six months pregnant.
She explained that the victim was placed under the protection of the agency, where she received care and monitoring throughout her pregnancy until she delivered a baby boy in December 2025.
Mohammed said the suspect initially denied responsibility, leading to a DNA test to determine the paternity of the child. The test, conducted in a laboratory outside Nigeria, confirmed with a 99.9999 per cent probability that the grandfather is the biological father of the baby.
The agency also disclosed that there had been attempts to terminate the pregnancy before the case was reported, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
Following the outcome of the DNA test, the case was handed over to the police for further investigation. The suspect is currently in custody and is expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The agency raised concern over the increasing cases of child abuse in the state, noting that several similar cases are under investigation. It called on communities to remain vigilant and support efforts to protect vulnerable children.