One Fatai Gbodorogun, an artisan, has been accused of raping a minor on three different occasions. POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the 27-year-old man raped the little girl in her residence in Ila-Orangun, a community in Osun State.
The mother of the victim had died some years ago, hence leaving her at the care of her father and aunt.
According to Mr Mohammed, the girl’s father, Mr Gbodorogun is a welder whose shop is not far from his residence.
Speaking with POLITICS NIGERIA on Tuesday, Mr Mohammed said the accused was first caught on May 5, 2020, by some of the girl’s older siblings.
“Mr Fatai who forced himself on the little Mariam for the third time was caught by three of the little siblings who are young to comprehend the incident. He (the oldest of the siblings) however challenged him by saying “Brother Fatai, what are you doing?”
“He shut the boy up by telling him that if tells anybody, anyone or their father and grandma, he’s going to kill him. Each time Mr Gbodorogun rapes the girl he would threaten to kill her if she opens up to anyone, ” He told our reporter.
He added that the girl narrated how the incident happened last Tuesday when he came back from work. It was at that point that the victim revealed to her parent that Mr Gbodorogun had been raping her, noting that after the last one, he brought out a bunch of leaves from his pocket which he used to clear her private part.
Afterwards, the girl was taken to a nearby hospital where a series of tests were carried out on her.
“She is getting better now,” Mr Mohammed announced.
Arrest and Controversy
POLITICS NIGERIA learnt that the case was reported at the A’ division police station in Ila-Orangun and Mr Gbodorogun was arrested. He was however released on bail after his statement was obtained by the police cops. Although the reason for the release was unknown, Mr Mohammed said the accused admitted that he committed the offence.
Meanwhile, against the claims of the parents, the police said the issue happened last year but was only reported last week. The spokesperson of the police in Osun state, Yemisi Opalola, explained to our reporter that Mr Gbodorogun has been re-arrested and the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo, Osun state capital.
Mrs Opalola, who spoke with POLITICS NIGERIA in a telephone interview on Wednesday, stated that the information before her shows that the incident occurred in 2019. Nevertheless, she noted that further investigation is still ongoing as the parents and the victim have been invited to Osogbo.
Group demands justice
However, an advocacy group, Voices Against Rape and Sexual Harassment (VARSH) has demanded that justice must prevail. In a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by its representative, Salvation Grace, the group insisted that the evil act perpetrated by Mr Gbodorogun should not go unpunished.
“Mr Fatai should reap the bad fruit he has sowed because records have it that it’s not his first evil act as the neighbours had testified.”
“Justice is all we seek for the little girl and her helpless parent as this would go a long way to curb such kind of act from penetrating the environment. He mustn’t go free, he must face the consequences to be an example to his other rapist out there.”
The group also challenged the government, civil societies and the general public to advocate for justice for the victim.
