Operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, have arrested a 29-year-old man, Salaudeen Toheeb, over the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman in the Ota area of the state.
The victim, identified simply as Boluwatife and a resident of Owode-Yewa, had reportedly been declared missing by her family before she was found in the suspect’s custody at Olohunda, Ota.
The State Commander of the corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, ACC Adegunwa Adegbuyi.
According to the statement, the arrest followed intelligence received by operatives of the corps.
The Divisional Officer of the Alagbon Division, SC Ibrahim Badru, reportedly received information at about 4pm on Saturday that the suspect had been spotted with a girl who was being searched for by her family.
Upon receiving the information, officers of the Corps proceeded to the location and arrested the suspect.
Ganzallo noted that on interrogation, Toheeb confessed that he met the girl loitering on Thursday evening while riding his motorcycle and lured her after she told him she was distressed.
He told the officers that he took her to his house, bought her food and later attempted to have carnal knowledge of her the same night, but she resisted.
The suspect was said to have allegedly forced himself on her in the early hours of Friday, before taking her out to charge his phone, where residents who recognised the girl alerted her father.
“He said he approached her and engaged her in conversation, during which she allegedly told him that she was distressed and did not know where to go. The suspect said he subsequently took her to his residence and bought her food.
“According to the preliminary account, after she had eaten, he allegedly attempted to have sexual intercourse with her, but she refused. He was further alleged to have forced himself on her in the early hours of the following day.”
However, the victim’s father was said to have demanded transfer of the case to the police for further investigation, alleging that his daughter left home with five mobile phones and about N17,000 cash.
“He informed the Divisional Officer that his daughter had left home with five mobile phones and approximately ₦17,000, which he wanted investigated alongside the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.”
The Corps confirmed that the suspect and victim have been handed over to the Owode-Yewa Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force for discreet investigation and prosecution.
The State Commander reiterated the Corps’ commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to promptly report cases involving missing persons, suspected abuse, sexual offences and other criminal activities to the appropriate security authorities.
