BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Personnel of the Osun State Police Command have arrested a 28-year-old-man, Bashiru Idris, for allegedly luring a teenage hawker into his apartment and raping her.
The incident was said to have happened around the Ahoyaya area in Ikoyi Village, Isokan Local Government Area of the state on April 12.
It was gathered that the victim, said to be a Junior Secondary School student in the community, was hawking ‘wara’, local cheese curds in the neighbourhood when Idris, who was sitting in front of his apartment, called her in the guise that he wanted to buy the snack from her.
One of the residents of the community informed The Point that the suspect took some cheese from the unsuspecting teenager and asked her to come inside his room for money.
“When she entered his room, Idris grabbed and raped her. He even threatened her not to tell anyone. But, she cried to her mother and told her all that Idris did,” the source who did not want to be named said.
The suspect, who is said to be a notorious thug in the area, was allegedly apprehended following the complaints that the victim’s mother lodged with the police.
Idris was consequently arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court on three-count-charge bordering on rape and indecent assault.
The charge against him read that “You, Bashiru Idris, on April 12, 2022 at about 2pm at Okesuna area, Ahoyaya, Ikoyi, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Blessing Rose (not real name), aged 13.
“You (defendant) did take undue advantage of one Blessing Rose and sexually exploited and indecently assaulted her.”
Police prosecutor, Inspector Fatoba Temitope, informed the court that Idris committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 31(1)(2), 32 of the Child’s Right Law of Osun State, 2007 and Section 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegation without having any legal representation.
The court ordered that Idris be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and that the case be transferred to Ikoyi Magistrate Court for mention.
