The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Damilola Orelaja, for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl in the Omu Ijebu area of Ogun State.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, “The suspect allegedly lured the survivor into his apartment on Araromi Street, Ọmu-Ijebu, at around 8:00 pm on July 22, 2024, while the survivor was returning from errands.”
Odutola confirmed the arrest via a WhatsApp message, stating, “The officers in the Omu division immediately swung into action after the survivor’s father, identified simply as Wasiu, reported the matter. The suspect was immediately arrested when the matter was brought to our attention on July 23. He will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for prosecution.”
This incident comes on the heels of another reported case of a police officer in Lagos accused of raping a 17-year-old girl inside a police station.
Dr. Uwemedimo Esiet, co-founder and director of Action Health Incorporated, emphasized the need for increased public education and enlightenment to address the growing number of gender-related crimes. “We need to ensure that communities become custodians of the children and young people’s rights to life, association, education, and to just enjoy their fundamental human rights,” Esiet said in a recent interview.
Civil society organizations are calling for swift justice for survivors and community involvement in addressing the issue.
