A
28-year-old fashion designer, identified only as Ituah, has been beaten
up by a mob on Mosaku Street, in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, for
allegedly raping a two-year-old girl.
28-year-old fashion designer, identified only as Ituah, has been beaten
up by a mob on Mosaku Street, in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, for
allegedly raping a two-year-old girl.
PUNCH Newspaper gathered that Ituah, who was later dragged to the
Akinpelu Police Division, was caught by a neighbour while allegedly
raping the victim. The neighbour reportedly alerted the girl’s mother.
Akinpelu Police Division, was caught by a neighbour while allegedly
raping the victim. The neighbour reportedly alerted the girl’s mother.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 5pm.
Our
correspondent gathered that the girl’s mother, identified simply as
Mrs. Ajibade, had gone to the toilet to urinate and left the girl in the
corridor.
correspondent gathered that the girl’s mother, identified simply as
Mrs. Ajibade, had gone to the toilet to urinate and left the girl in the
corridor.
The victim was said to
have gone to play with Ituah, who has a shop in front of the victim’s
house, when the suspect allegedly raped her.
have gone to play with Ituah, who has a shop in front of the victim’s
house, when the suspect allegedly raped her.
A neighbour reportedly caught the fashion designer and raised the alarm, which attracted a mob.
The mob reportedly beat up the suspect before dragging him to the police station.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro,
the victim’s mother, Ajibade, a trader, said she left the girl in the
corridor so that she would not play with electric appliances in the
sitting room.
the victim’s mother, Ajibade, a trader, said she left the girl in the
corridor so that she would not play with electric appliances in the
sitting room.
She said, “It was around 5pm on Sunday that the incident happened. We live in a face-me-I-face-you house. The suspect has a shop in front of our house.
“I
went to the toilet and returned without seeing my daughter in the
corridor. I had left her in the corridor because I did not want her to
play with electric sockets in the house.
went to the toilet and returned without seeing my daughter in the
corridor. I had left her in the corridor because I did not want her to
play with electric sockets in the house.
“When
I came back, I could not find her. I did not know she was with the
fashion designer. When my girl was brought from the shop, she just
pointed to her private parts and cried, ‘Ituah, Ituah’.
I came back, I could not find her. I did not know she was with the
fashion designer. When my girl was brought from the shop, she just
pointed to her private parts and cried, ‘Ituah, Ituah’.
“That was how I examined her pants and discovered that she had been raped.
“We were at the Mirabel Centre on Monday for a checkup. She is gradually responding to treatment.
“The suspect’s family members are putting pressure on us. We do not want any case on the matter.”
Our
correspondent learnt that after Ituah was mobbed, the matter was also
brought to the attention of a non-governmental organisation in the area,
Child Protection Network, which facilitated his movement to the police
station.
correspondent learnt that after Ituah was mobbed, the matter was also
brought to the attention of a non-governmental organisation in the area,
Child Protection Network, which facilitated his movement to the police
station.
The CPN coordinator in the
Oshodi area, Ebenezer Omejalile, said the suspect confessed to have
inserted his fingers into the two-year-old’s private parts, but denied
raping her.
Oshodi area, Ebenezer Omejalile, said the suspect confessed to have
inserted his fingers into the two-year-old’s private parts, but denied
raping her.
He said, “The suspect
denied having an intercourse with the girl. He was the only one in the
shop. He later told the girl’s mother that he only inserted his fingers
into the girl’s private parts.
denied having an intercourse with the girl. He was the only one in the
shop. He later told the girl’s mother that he only inserted his fingers
into the girl’s private parts.
“The shop is closed down as we speak. The suspect has been moved from the division to the command headquarters.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Ituah’s arrest.
She said, “He is in custody at the gender unit of the command headquarters. Investigation is ongoing into the matter.”