1st November, 2013
Three youths have allegedly gang-raped a 15-year old girl in Ikorodu area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Two of the youths have been arraigned at the Family Court, Ikeja in connection with the incident, while the third youth is on the run.
The Office of Public Defender, OPD, is handling the case on behalf of the raped girl.
The three men identified as Yusuf Mohammed, Rasheed Oyedepo and Tunde were alleged to have inflicted bodily injury on the girl (name withheld) at 23, Tola Mustapha Street, Ajegunle area of Ikorodu.
The victim was allegedly lured to the place of attack by her classmate (name withheld), a 16-year old girl in the guise of returning a text book which she had earlier borrowed from the victim.
Unknown to the girl, her friend had allegedly arranged with the three suspects to rape her.
It was gathered that the raped girl’s friend deliberately delayed her classmate for hours to fully prepare ground for the heinous crime by putting on the generator set, on the pretext that she needed to charge her phone.
When it was getting too late for the victim to return home, she wanted to take her leave in annoyance but her friend persuaded to tarry a while and later took her to another room.
It was in the new room that Yusuf Mohammed came in and was alleged to have raped the victim and caused her bodily harm, while Tunde (who is still at large) forcefully took his turn to rape her, followed by Rasheed Oyedepo who was even more vicious than Yusuf.
While taking turns to rape the girl, the noise from the generator and the music they were playing prevented people outside from hearing the the victim’s screams for help.
On getting home in bad condition, the girl’s mother took her to a private clinic for medical attention, but unfortunately the doctor at the private hospital did not manage her properly.
She was transferred to Ikorodu General Hospital for proper medical treatment where it was discovered that her womb had been tampered with at the private clinic.
The raped girl was in critical condition as she was admitted in the hospital for three days.
The suspects were arrested after the matter was reported at Owode Police Station.
They were charged to the Family Court in Ikeja and the OPD is holding a watching brief in the interest of the girl to ensure that the matter was diligently prosecuted and justice is done.
The Director, OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, shortly after the case was heard in court, advised parents, particularly mothers, to be vigilant and monitor the activities of their daughters and wards, so that they do not join bad gangs or fall victims of rape.
The case has, however, taken a new twist as the police transferred the suspects who have already been charged to court to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, for investigation, an act the OPD described as unlawful.
It was gathered that the police had gone to the girl’s family threatening the mother for taking the case to the OPD, after which they transferred the suspects to SCID, Panti.