Man arrested for allegedly defiling minor inside mosque restroom

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old male worshipper identified as Abiola, also known as Aro, on the accusation of defiling a 14-year-old minor at the Olorunloba Mosque restroom, Ondo Road, Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

The suspect has been a member of the mosque for over 15 years. The incident happened following the completion of the afternoon Muslim prayer in the mosque, on Saturday, March 4, 2024, at about 2:20pm.

According to a police report at the Igbeba Division, the victim said she went to the mosque’s bathroom to relieve herself. Shortly after, she heard a knock on the door. She was startled when she opened the door and saw Aro standing by it, even though she had assumed the knock was from her younger brother, who had also come for the prayer. She was trying to find out why Aro was in the women’s restroom when he allegedly shoved her back into the restroom and forced her up against the wall.

Despite the victim's cries and pleas, Aro removed her pants violently and pinned the teenager to the toilet wall before having carnal knowledge of the girl. A police report on the incident partly read, “As a result of what Aro did, the survivor started bleeding uncontrollably from her private parts. She went back home to report the matter to her guardian, who took her to a general hospital in the area for medical attention.”

Following the suspect’s arrest, he was detained, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who also said the case would be forwarded to the State Criminal Investigation Department for additional investigation. “The suspect has been arrested and detained for alleged defilement. He will be transferred to the State CID in Abeokuta immediately after the preliminary investigation is completed,” Odutola stated via a WhatsApp message on Sunday.

A related incident occurred on April 26, 2024, when the police detained two brothers, Olamijuwon Noibi and Lukman Olatunbosun, for suspected gang-rape in Oke-Eri, Atan-Ijebu. One of the suspects had tricked the victim into coming to their apartment, where he allegedly assaulted her sexually. He also threatened to kill his younger brother, Olatunbosun, with a knife after he refused to take part in the crime. Noibi was said to have also filmed the moment his brother was allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with the survivor.