Olaleye Aluko
The Lagos State Police Command has
arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Bassey Johnson, for allegedly raping a
four-year-old girl in the Idimu area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the
school-leaver, who is also learning a trade, allegedly raped the girl,
Fatima (pseudonym), when she and her elder brother went to watch a
television in the suspect’s apartment.
The victim’s family and the suspect were said to be neighbours in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that on
Sunday, around 9am, Fatima and her seven-year-old brother, Wareed, went
to the suspect’s room to watch the TV.
It was learnt that while the two were in Johnson’s apartment, Wareed fell asleep.
The suspect was said to have raped the girl, after the brother slept.
A neighbour, who identified herself only
as Adeyinka, said it was Fatima’s mother, who later discovered that the
four-year-old had been raped when the girl continued to scratch her
private parts.
She said, “Bass (Johnson) is very close
to the girl’s family. They are neighbours and the children usually went
to watch TV in his room. On that Sunday, the girl and her brother went
into Bass’ room and while they were watching TV, the brother slept off.
“Bass thereafter raped the girl. The
brother was sleeping in the room while Bass, who could not control his
urge, raped the girl. After the girl came out of the room, the mother
noticed that she kept crying and was scratching her private parts.
“When the mother checked Fatima’s
private parts, she saw bloodstains and semen. When she confronted the
perpetrator, the man confessed to the crime. That was how the matter got
to the police.”
The matter was said to have been reported at the Idimu Police Division, and Johnson was arrested.
Our correspondent learnt that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team had also stepped into the incident.
The DSVRT Coordinator, Lola
Vivour-Adeniyi, said the girl had been taken for a checkup, adding that
the Department of Public Prosecutions had requested for the duplicate
case file.
She said, “The girl was taken to Rauf
Aregbesola Primary Health Centre, where she was given post-exposure
prophylaxis for free. The semen of the suspect was still in her pants as
of the time of the treatment. The suspect ran away initially, but the
girl’s father was able to arrest him through one of their neighbours.
“The matter was reported to us on
Monday, and we are going to follow up on the prosecution. The girl has
been treated. The DPP has also requested the duplicate case file.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest, adding that the case
had been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and
Investigation Department, Yaba.
She said, “The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the case be transferred to the SCIID.”
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