FIDA Nigeria, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, has demanded swift justice over the brutal abuse of 14-year-old Bashariya, allegedly by a judge’s wife.
The parents of Bashariya had fled their home to escape bandit attacks and found shelter in an IDP camp near Gwiwa Eka. With hopes for a better life, Bashariya was taken to Abuja by Fauziya, the wife of a Sokoto judge, Barrister Abbakar Zaki, who hired her as a maid. However, instead of care and safety, she faced cruel treatment and unimaginable abuse.
Images of Bashariya’s visibly scarred body have circulated widely, igniting a widespread call for justice. As horrifying as these images are, FIDA warns that they represent only the surface of a much deeper crisis
FIDA points out that for every visible wound, countless others suffer in silence, trapped in abusive homes and environments. “If we do nothing, we are complicit. Let’s do something,” the group emphasized.
Following this incident, the federation specifically calls upon the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Human Rights Commission, and all relevant authorities to prioritize Bashariya’s case. FIDA warns that failure to act decisively would amount to a betrayal of Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.
“This is not just a tragic incident, it is a national emergency,” FIDA Nigeria stated. “We urge all responsible government bodies to ensure justice is served without delay. We cannot afford silence or slow responses in the face of such brutality.”
FIDA’s call is not only for sympathy, but also a demand for systemic change and accountability. “We owe Bashariya more than sympathy,” the group said. “We owe her justice. We owe her healing. We owe her safety from those who think their power makes them untouchable.”
FIDA insisted that this case must become a benchmark for how Nigeria responds to violence against children.
“Let the law speak loud and clear,” the statement declared. “Let the system prove that it works for every Nigerian child, especially the most vulnerable.”
The group also issued a stirring public appeal, urging Nigerians not to look away.
“Let us not scroll past her pain. Let us not wait until the next child is burned. Together, let us speak out and demand justice,” the statement read. The public is encouraged to share Bashariya’s story and amplify the call for justice.
Civil society organizations and activists have echoed FIDA’s sentiments urging the government to act swiftly and ensure that all perpetrators, no matter how influential, are held accountable.
So far, no official statement has been released by the Ministry of Women Affairs or the Nigeria Police Force regarding investigations or actions taken.