The Ogun State Pooice Command has arrested a 40-year-old male worshipper identified as Abiola, otherwise known as Aro.
Aro was accused of defiling a 14-year-old minor (name withheld) at the Olorunloba Mosque restroom located on Ondo Road in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.
The suspect was said to had been a member of the mosque for more than 15 years.
The incident, according to sources, happened following the completion of the afternoon Muslim prayer in the mosque, on Saturday, March 4, 2024, at about 2:20pm.
The survivor told the police officers at the Igbeba Division, that she needed to relieve herself and went to the mosque’s bathroom to pass the stool.
She, however, explained that she heard a knock on the door shortly after she entered the restroom.
The survivor further claimed that she was startled when she opened the door and discovered Aro standing by it, even though she had assumed the knock was from her younger brother, who had also come for the prayer.
She told the police that she was trying to find out why Aro was in the women’s restroom when she surprisingly saw him by the door. He was said to have then allegedly shoved her back into the restroom and forced her up against the wall.
A police source who was privy to the report but craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press told Punch that despite the survivor’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 document exclusively made available to Punch Metro on Sunday about the report of 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.”
The state police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident, saying the suspect has been arrested and detained.
Odutola 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.
