The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rapist

  • I am not a rapist, claims suspect

    I am not a rapist, claims suspect

    •He raped me, woman alleges

    Who is the man raping and maiming women in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos? The mystery over his identity deepened yesterday, as the man arrested last Sunday over the case, denied being the rapist.

    But a victim, the police alleged, has identified him “as the one that raped her.”

    Victor David, 32, was arrested at the palace of the Olu of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanya after residents attempted to lynch him for allegedly being the rapist.

    He was also accused of killing a teacher, Mrs Grace Jubreel, while attempting to rape her.

    But David, who hails from Edo State claimed that he was being mistaken for the rapist, adding that, he was a bricklayer and has been working at the Lagos State Development Project Council (LSDPC) Estate at Owode, Ikorodu.

    He said he went to the neighbourhood last Sunday at about 2pm to see his girlfriend, after leaving his friend, Babatunde Balogun (BALOO), at the bus stop.

    David said: “This is very surprising to me. I have never raped anyone in my life and I do not even live in that area. I was with BALOO who is an engineer at the estate. That day I told him I was hungry and he promised to cook for us to eat after he broke his fast.

    We went into the bush and cut vegetables. We sliced the vegetables together and we went to the market to buy foodstuff. When we got to the bus stop, I told him I wanted to see my girlfriend whom I just met on Thursday so that she can help us cook the vegetable soup.

    “But he told me he is a Muslim and that it is a sin for a woman who isn’t his wife to cook for him during Ramadan. So, I told him I will join him later. It wasn’t long after I left him and went to Mary’s house which was at the bus stop that people just surrounded me claiming I was the rapist.

    They asked me what I was doing in the neighbourhood and I told them I came to see my friend. The next thing they started beating me that I am Badoo; I told them I don’t know what they are talking about. I told them that I was with my friend and that we were just returning from the market where we went to buy foodstuff that his name is Baloo.

    “Baloo came and told them he knew me. He even showed them the foodstuff but they didn’t believe us. They wanted to kill me and he ran to the palace to tell the chiefs. That was how he was paraded with me and we were accused of being the rapists. The estate is at Owode. If you take me there, you would see where I am living. I have been staying there since 2014. To God who made me, I have never raped anyone in my life. Even if my girlfriend asks me to stop, I would stop. Mary’s phone is bad. She stays at Ilaje bus-stop near one filling station. Just on Thursday, I saw her in the night and I toasted her and she took me to her house that night. I sat down with her in front of her house. Her mother is an old woman. There is one of her younger sisters there who was crying and when I asked her why she was crying, she said because they have not eaten anything.

    “I was with N2200 and I had to give her N1000 to get something to eat. I even gave her sister N100 to buy corn. When everything got scattered, those people said they did not recognise me. I don’t know what to do. I am 32 and living at OwodeIbeshe. I am not Badoo. I do not even know the person. I am praying that the police should arrest him soon so that they can see I am innocent.”

    Baloo affirmed that the whole community knows that they are looking for someone called Badoo but they do not know the person.

    The police said the woman who visited the station on Monday, identified David as the rapist, stating:

    “We have a woman that has identified him as the one that raped her. We have not seen anyone to talk on behalf of the dead woman. So, we are treating the case of rape now; if we are able to establish two or more people, we will charge him to court.

    “For the other suspect (Baloo) we have to set him free because no one has identified him as being a rapist. He was only dragged into it because he came out to say he knew the man who was to be lynched. So far, there is nothing linking him to the case and we will have to let him go,” said police spokesperson, DolapoBadmos, a Superintendent (SP).

  • Ebonyi: Police launch manhunt for rapist

    Ebonyi: Police launch manhunt for rapist

    Detectives of Ebonyi State Police command have launched a manhunt for one Sunday Obaji for allegedly raping one Mgbada Chioma .

    The incident it was reliably gathered happened at Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area.

    Police Spokesman ASP George Okafor confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    He said the suspect barged into the victim’s room and raped her at gun point.

    While noting that the community should assist in apprehending the suspect the spokesman reiterated the resolve of the command to fight the scourge of violence against women to standstill.

    He said: “On the 7th of March, 2016, one Mgbada Chioma from Effium community, Ohaukwu local government reported to the police that at about 2:am in the morning, one SundayObaji entered her bed room, pointed gun at her and threatened to kill her if she raised alarm”.

    “On the process, with the threat of the gun, Sunday Obaji tore her dresses and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and after that, he escaped”.

    “The girl reported the matter to the police and the scene has been visited. The matter is under investigation”. The suspect is on the run; we are trying to trace him to wherever we can. He cannot run for long”.

    “The community should assist in producing him because they known him very well. How can a lady be sleeping at night, a man will move in and raped her on gunpoint and ran away”.

    “We are talking about violence against women and this is one of such violence. Wherever this man is, we must fish him out. He must be punished and we are calling on this community to do something immediately and produce this suspect”.

    “He is a native of the community; even if he escaped from the community, they have to fish him out.”

     

  • Police grant suspected rapist bail

    •PRO: I’m not aware of his release

    Family of a raped four-year old girl has cried foul over the granting of bail to the suspect.

    Grandmother of the  girl allegedly raped by her school bus driver on September 17, alleged that the suspect, Yemi Adesina, has been bailed by the school management.

    Lagos Police Public Relations Officer Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent, said he was aware of the suspect’s detention, but could not confirm if Adesina has been bailed.

    Mrs. T. Ajose, said she was in church last Sunday when some members told her they saw the suspect at his Ibikunle Street residence in Ipaja, Lagos.

    She said she once heard two weeks ago that he was granted bail but she didn’t believe it.

    “I heard he was granted N200,000 bail but when the school couldn’t afford the amount at that moment, he was remanded again. I was really shocked on Sunday when I heard he was freed and it was the school, who bailed him. Since the incident, I have left my residence because the school management threatened me to drop the case. I just pray help comes. It is justice I want,” she said.

    Meanwhile, End Rape Now (EPN), a non-governmental organistaion in conjunction with Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Violence Team in the Attorney General’s Office is now on the case.

    Its Coordinator, Dupe Kila, said the organisation had been working with lawyers of the National Human Rights Commission to look into the matter.

    Kila said: “We have been working with professionals over the case because the school has turned it into a murder case. We want to support residents who stood by the victim’s grandmother when she was ignored by the school’s management. If these residents are detained, will residents help one another when they are in trouble? I doubt if kids are save in that school because the victim’s health or welfare never mattered to them.”

  • Court jails rapist, cultist 21 years

    A middle aged man, Super Ojo from Akaba in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for conspiracy, gang raping and belonging to a secret society.
    Ojo popularly known as Bestman was convicted by a state High Court sitting in Yenagoa, on Friday.
    The High Court 2 presided over by Justice Margaret Akpomiemie found Ojo guilty of conspiracy, actual rape and being a member of secret cult known as the Bobos.
    On the count of conspiracy, Ojo bagged five years in prison; 21 years for rape and two years for being a member of the Bobos. The sentences would run concurrently.
    The convict and nine other members of his gang raped a lady at a bush in Akaba and forcefully initiated her into their secret cult.
    On the fateful day, Ojo and four other persons who were armed with matchetes and guns stormed the home of the lady and accosted her and her brother.
    When neighbours came out to intervene, the convict who was reportedly dreaded in the community ordered them back to their house.
    They dragged the lady into a nearby bush where five other persons were waiting, blinded-folded her and each of them took turns on her.
    As they raped her, they made her to shout a slogan of their cult group and later gave her a matchete cut at the back as a symbol of the initiation.
    The rapists later took her to a place where she took her bath and they later asked her to go home.
    But she collapsed on her way home and was rescued and rushed to the hospital by a Good Samaritan.
    The young lady who spent many weeks in the hospital and at a point attempted suicide later reported the matter to the police who laid a trap for the rapists and arrested Ojo.
    Members of Ojo’s gang threatened to kill the brother of the victim if he failed to secure Ojo’s freedom and few days later the brother was attacked and killed with matchetes.

  • Female lawyers vow to prosecute ‘rapist’

    The Niger State chapter of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) yesterday vowed to apprehend and prosecute a Kaduna-based spiritualist, who allegedly drugged and defiled a 33-year-old woman under the guise of delivering her from spiritual attacks.
    The suspect, Mallam Haruna Bello of Jikin Katangan village in Kaduna State, claimed to have a solution to the spiritual problems of his victim, Jemila Ibrahim, who lives in Minna, the Niger State capital.
    It was learnt that Jemila approached the spiritualist for cleansing from spiritual attacks, but he instead allegedly drugged and defiled her, which resulted in pregnancy.
    Bello was alleged to have mixed some concoctions and she gave his victim to drink. The woman fell asleep and he defiled her.
    The Chairperson of FIDA, Fati Suleiman Takuma, who addressed reporters in Minna while presenting food items, clothes and an undisclosed amount to the victim, who was delivered of a baby last week, promised that the association would prosecute Bello.
    She said all hands should be on deck to ensure the elimination of violence against women and children.
    Her words: “We have been taking care of the victim, but unfortunately the offence occurred in Kaduna State. We have contacted the chairperson of FIDA in the state for action. I have sent the details so that she can take up from there to ensure that the suspect is apprehended and arraigned.”

  • Court remands serial rapist

    Court remands serial rapist

    The police have arraigned a 30-year-old applicant, John Otuma, before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for the allegedly murder of a woman, Abisogun Arinola, 29.

    Otuma was alleged to have unlawfully had carnal knowledge of Arinola without her consent in his black Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number FST 299 CM.

    The defendant, a post graduate student at the University of Lagos was said to have assaulted Arinola in his Lexus SUV on July 11 on Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi.

    Otuma and Arinola were said to be friends and classmates.

    Otuma on May 11 also been arraigned before Magistrate Abolarinwa of Court 7 for alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl.

    Police prosecutor Emmanuel Eze applied that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending legal advice from The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

     The defence counsel, C. Oseni, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms. He added that his client might die because he has been in custody for 21 days before his arraignment.

    His plea was not taken.

    Magistrate Ope-Agbe ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody for DPP advice.

    She said the court has no jurisdiction to grant bail on rape matter. The case was adjourned till September 17.

  • Face to face with a rapist

    Face to face with a rapist

    But for providence, a 400-Level female student of the Department of Political Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State would have been raped by a graduate, who had just finished his National Youth Service. The victim relives her experience to WALE AJETUNMOBI.

    Trust can be likened to a tiny but strong chord that can endure; but, it takes a moment of disappointment to severe it forever. By now, Zulihat Adebimpe (not her real name) may have stopped to trust anybody again. The 400-Level Political Science student of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State capital escaped being raped penultimate week by a male friend whom she trusted.

    She could only feel helpless after being overpowered by her male friend whose sense had been overwhelmed by a sharp moment of libido. But for a brief seizure, which threw the culprit, Qaseem (other names withheld), off-balance, perhaps the victim would still been writhing in psychological depression and trauma.

    Zulihat, who had just been inducted into a coven of hijab sisters as young female Muslims are called, said she excessively trusted the man who attempted to rape her. She described the moment of struggling against the assailant as terrible, because nobody came to her rescue when she screamed for help. Zulihat said she was more disappointed because the incident happened in an apartment which Qaseem claimed to be his family house.

    Qaseem, it was learnt, graduated from Department of Political Science of UNILORIN in 2013 and had just finished his National Youth Service. He became friend with Zulihat, while he was in school but lost contact with her when he went for Youth Service.

    But, Zulihat said the culprit got her phone number from Facebook, after which he called and sent her message on Whatsapp, a mobile instant messaging application.

    She said: “After his graduation, I heard from Qaseem last month. He called me at 1:30am while I was observing a midnight prayer and we spoke for a while before I returned to the prayer. The following morning, his calls kept coming in and I was surprised he requested that I should visit him. I did not have inkling of what he was up to, because we had chatted many times in the past on my reluctance to visit people I hardly know.

    “But he kept pestering me to visit him. I told him I was being cautious against assault, because I hardly forgive myself for my mistakes. A week later, I decided to visit him after he pleaded. He agreed to pick me up at Post Office area with his motorcycle to his family house in Ilorin.”

    Zulihat said she did not expect harm from Qaseem, since they are both Muslims and they understand what the Holy Qur’an said about pre-marital mating.

    She added: “Both of us are Muslims and I expected fair treatment from him. He took me to an apartment, which I believe is not his family house. But given his harmless countenance and humility, I agreed to go into the building with him. He offered me water, which I delayed in drinking. He brought out his photo album and he used the opportunity to move closer to me. I sensed he was up to something untoward; then, I dropped the photo album and asked to take my leave.

    “He suddenly changed his attitude and looked at me seductively. I stood up to leave the apartment but he pulled me back. He pushed me on the bed and as I made effort to get up, he landed on me with force. I struggled with him for a moment but when my strength could not save me, I screamed for help. His neighbours could not hear my cry.

    “I pleaded with him not to do it and told him I am a virgin. I told him that, even if I was ready for intercourse, it should not be by violation. I pleaded with him, using the religion we both share, but all to no avail. He continued making his effort pull off my hijab, which was too thick and covered all parts of my body.”

    After a while, Zulihat said she noticed her assailant began to shake feverishly and fell on the floor. She ran to the door to escape but it was locked.

    “Qaseem got up again and grabbed my hand. He knelt and begged that I should forgive is uncontrollable act. He said he was seduced by my presence. I told him to open the door for me to leave. He obliged and I ran out of the building. Everything happened within 10 minutes.

    “The following day, he came to check me in school but I ignored him. He sent messages on Whatsapp, pleading for his immoral act. I did not reply any of his messages because he betrayed my trust. I am being traumatised psychologically because I don’t forgive myself easily for my mistakes.”

    If Qassem had succeeded, Zulihat said he would have been thrown into an endless agony by a friend she trusted. She said she decided not to report the matter at the police station because of stigmatisation that may arise after the incident becomes open. Besides, she did not want her personal mistakes to expose her fellow Muslim sisters to public disgrace.

    She said: “If I had reported the matter to the police, the law may set him free or find him guilty but it would not stop me from regretting my decision to visit him at home. My religion will always find me guilty and punish me for visiting a man who is not a member of my family or husband.”

  • Students parade suspected rapist

    Activities were disrupted on Monday at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State when students brought a man half-naked to the campus. He was accused of raping a student in an off-campus residence. In a carnival-like manner, students took the suspected rapist round the hostels, beating him.

    The suspect, identified as Abayomi, who was said to be a non-student, allegedly raped a 100-Level student of Dramatic Arts on Sunday in his house. The suspect, it was gathered, met the victim three days before he allegedly committed the crime.

    The victim’s sister, a Mozambique Hall resident, reported the matter to officials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) on Monday, after which students stormed Abayomi’s house. The students tore the suspect’s clothes as they hurled him into their vehicle. He was taken to the campus, where a crowd of students was waiting to give him a “special welcome”.

    A 400-Level English and Literary Studies student, who did not want her name in print, said the victim left for town to plait her hair when Abayomi invited her to his house.

    She said: “When she got to the guy’s house, he locked the door from behind and started beating the girl until she became weak. Afterwards, Abayomi forcefully had a carnal knowledge of her and threw her out, saying her body was stinking. When the victim returned to campus, she was initially shy but we told her sister, who reported the matter to Students’ Union officials.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the suspect did not willingly confess to the crime, but he admitted having carnal knowledge of the victim when he was beaten up.

    The suspect was taken round female hostels for identification. Each occupant in the halls gave him four strokes of cane, some pelted him with objects, such as frying pots and pestles. The suspect was made to drink muddy water.

    Ayotomiwa Olufunso, a 300-Level Law student, said: “A sin against one of us is a sin against all of us. I see the crime as a despicable act against students of OAU. When we are done with him, he will be handed over to police for the commensurate punishment for the crime. I will also blame the girl for allowing herself to be lured by a non-student.”

    Another student, Shade Ojo, said the suspect must be charged to court. “Although, the victim should be blamed for her stupidity, but we will ensure the guy is punished,” Shade said.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, the SUG Vice President, Funmilayo Oladejo, said the suspect had been handed over to the school security officers for further investigation.

     

  • Time to stop rapists

    There has been an upsurge in rape cases in Nigeria in recent times, but measures by the government to stop the trend seem to be ineffective.

    Last month, the National Assembly started another move to curb the crime. Thanks to Senator Chris Anyanwu, from Imo State, who sponsored Sexual Offence Bill to address the crime. The Bill prescribed life sentence to anybody convicted of rape. With this, senators surprised Nigerians with their recommendation.

    Showing her disgust for rape, Senator Zainab Kure (Niger South) said rapists should be shot. To Senator Hellen Esuene, severe punishment for offenders would deter would-be offenders. Another lawmaker, Senator Sola Adeyeye implored Federal Government to urgently sign the bill. All these are signs that sooner, rapists would have no chance to perpetrate their activities.

    In time past, human rights groups have held campaigns against rape, which they see as violation of rights of the victims. But these campaigns yield nothing and the criminals get away with the crime. Now, underage girls are prey for the conscienceless rapists. It is now a common occurrence to hear reports of a grandfather defiling a minor.

    There are many cases of rape, which are not reported because of the status or position of the people involved. This simply indicates that the number of reported cases is only a few occurrences out of several cases.

    In northern Nigeria, there are incidences of rape where young girls affected. The other day, a police chief confessed: “Child rape is becoming rampant in Kano and we are worried that nothing is done to stop these incidents. It will definitely go out of hand if proper care is not taken.” The top cop must have good evidence to back his claim.

    Rape suspects are usually elderly men while their victims are mostly girls between 3 and 18 years. The high rate of rape cases started in 2004, while it became pronounced 2005. In 2007, rape became uncontrollable.

    In 2013, Kano alone had 54 cases of child rape. Also in Ibadan, over 20 rape cases are reported on monthly basis with only one out of 100 was prosecuted.

    Most vulnerable victims of this inhuman act are street hawkers. These girls are lured by rapists who pretend to want to buy their wares. The situation has become so bad that one has to monitor every movement of his children, especially the ladies.

    Young girls are susceptible to this crime. Poverty, parental negligence and the moral crisis in the society have also all combined to be a factor stoking the flame of rape in our society. The victims are traumatised and stigmatized, which is why a few of the victims are willing to press charges.

    Out of sexual lust of a few perverts, our society is painted in bad light. Psychiatric tests should be carried out on rapists. Girls should desist from wearing bad dresses, which attract rapists.

    Instead of waiting for the next victim to cry out, government should begin a community outreach programme to educate the citizens on the evil of rape. Parents should also educate their wards on the need for good conduct, which will promote our values.

    It is good to make a rapist face the full wrath of the law and that of the Almighty. But we have to act fast to prevent the crime by enlighten people on the evils of rape and its consequence on the society.

     

    •Akinola, ND II Mass Communication, OFFA POLY

     

     

  • Rapist gets eight years for defiling 12-year-old

    Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye of a High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend jailed a labourer, Innocent Eze, for eight years for defiling a 12-year-old girl.

    Eze, a labourer at Ijan-Ekiti and an indigene of Nsukka in Enugu State, got one year for indecent assault and seven years for the rape. The two counts, according to the judgment, were contrary to sections 360 and 218 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Justice Adekanye said the convict on August 31, 2011 at Ijan-Ekiti seized the young girl, who had assisted him to fetch water from a well, threw her on his bed and defiled her.

    He, according to the judgment, later stuffed a handkerchief in the girl’s private part when blood was oozing out and gave her N100 to “buy drugs.”

    The judgment reads: “This is definitely a barbaric act and the sentence must be such as would act as a deterrent to others.

    “Accordingly, he is sentenced to one-year imprisonment in count one and sentenced to seven years in count two. They are to run concurrently.”

    Justice Adekanye said: “It’s unfortunate that a 12-year-old girl was defiled. It is more unfortunate that the matter came to the public domain.

    “The convict has placed a stigma on the victim, which may take a long time to erase. The trauma suffered by the victim would take a longer time to forget.

    “The act of the convict is not such as should be encouraged. This is definitely a barbaric act and the sentence must be such as would act as a deterrent to others.”

    Wife of the governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, who described Eze’s act as “abhorrent”, said: “This judgment is an indication that rapists have no accommodation in Ekiti.”

    Mrs. Fayemi, who spoke through his media aide, Akin Oyedele, in a statement said the judgment was a “major victory for the crusade against sexual and child abuse.”

    She hoped that it would act as a deterrent to others.

    The statement reads: “Although it’s not capable of eliminating the scars, it will at least heal the wound of the victim.

    “It’s victory for caring parents, individuals, groups and civil society organisations that have joined me in the campaign against child abuse. I salute the judge’s courage.