The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old scrap collector, Nurudeen Owolabi, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old pupil, Ngozi (pseudonym) in the Bariga area of the state.
Owolabi lived in the same neighbourhood with the parents of the victim.
He was said to have tricked her into his apartment on Alhaji Yinu Street, Bariga, on Thursday and raped her.
Our correspondent was told that he gave Ngozi N200 and warned her not to tell anybody about what happened.
However, the victim’s mother was said to have noticed a whitish substance on her private parts and after much prodding, Ngozi opened up on the incident.
A police source said the case was immediately reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the Ilorin, Kwara State indigene.
The source said, “The girl’s mother was away that Thursday; her grandmother sent her on an errand and the suspect tricked her into his room, where he raped her.
“When the girl’s mother returned, she noticed that Ngozi’s pants were wet and she became suspicious. She asked her what happened to her, and she said it was Owolabi that raped her.”
The source said the suspect was arrested and taken to the Bariga Police Station.
The case was transferred to the Gender Office, Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
The victim was also taken to the Mirabel Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where a series of tests were conducted on her.
The results reportedly showed that her hymen had been broken.
Ngozi, who is in primary 5, said, “I went to buy rice and I passed through Brother Nuru’s (Owolabi) house. He called me and dragged me inside his room.
“He removed my gown and my pants and raped me. He begged me not to tell anybody. I did not tell my mother because I was afraid she would beat me.”
The suspect said he was formerly dating the victim’s sister before he got another girlfriend.
He added that since his separation from Ngozi’s sister, she had drawn close to him and he always gave her money.
He said he was tempted to sleep with her because his new girlfriend had not visited him for a month.
He said, “I had a girlfriend on my street, who is about 21 years old, and anytime she came to my apartment, I would sleep with her and pay her N500. But for about a month, she didn’t come.
“I saw her (the victim) passing by that Thursday and I called her to come in. I had sex with her. I then gave her N200.
“Later, her mother barged into my house on Saturday and started crying that I wanted to destroy her daughter’s life. It wasn’t my fault; the devil made me do it.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, warned paedophiles to change their ways.
She said, “We want to appeal to parents of victims to speak up and report to the nearest police station. They must also keep watchful eyes on their children to protect them from sexual abuse. The Lagos State Police Command will not spare rapists.”
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