A commercial bus driver, Jelili Lawal, has been arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping a 78-year-old woman in the Adeniyi Jones area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
The septuagenarian, who was going to her place of residence in the Ketu area of Lagos, was said to have missed her way before the 41-year-old Lawal offered her a lift to her destination.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said at a press briefing on Monday that the woman, who was delighted at Lawal’s offer, never suspected that he had other intentions, adding that he drove her to another location to perpetuate the crime.
He added that the woman’s cry for help alerted a resident, who informed the police, who came to rescue her and arrested Lawal.
Imohimi said, “On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, around 8pm, a woman, 78, met one Jelili Lawal, 41, a bus driver, at Maryland and told him that she had missed her way and did not know how to get to her house in Ketu.
“The said Jelili Lawal offered to help her. The woman was delighted and she boarded the bus, unknown to her that Lawal had other intentions.
“The suspect drove the victim to a location in Oloti village, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, and raped her without regards to her age. While the suspect was at it, the woman let out a cry that attracted someone in the neighbourhood, who quickly called the police and directed them to the location where the cry emanated from.
“That was how the police caught the suspect in the act and rescued the old woman, who was already bleeding from her private parts as a result of the assault on her dignity.”
The CP said the victim, who had been taken to the hospital, was being counselled by trauma specialists, adding that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.
Similarly, the command also arrested 17-year-old Samuel Balogun for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Lagos.
Imohimi, who said the gender section unit of the command had commenced the interrogation of the suspect, added that he would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.
He stated, “On Thursday, January 3, 2019, a report was made at the Alakuko Police Station that one Samuel Balogun, 17, of No. 14 Ademola Abiola Street, Alakuko, Lagos, took a 12-year-old girl to an uncompleted building and had an unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
“The said Samuel Balogun was promptly arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation at the gender unit of the command.
“The suspect will be charged to court for defilement at the conclusion of investigation.”
(PUNCH)