– The young lady was molested at about 10pm after leaving her aunt’s mall
– One of the men who carried out the act claimed to have given her the Indian hemp before the assault
– Family members uncomfortable with how the police has treated the case as it appears it has been brushed aside
– Human Rights activist says the matter will not be swept under the carpet, reports to the appropriate body August 28, 2016 will remain an unforgettable day for 23-year-old Judith (pseudonym) after her near death experience in the hands of hoodlums.
According to The Punch, the lady was reportedly forced to take Indian hemp before by some hoodlums before they had carnal knowledge of her. While giving an account of the incident, one of the two brothers sent to look for her when she could not be found, stated that she explained everything that happened to her and he was shocked with what he discovered.
He said: “Her slippers were all torn, the dress she was wearing was heavy with blood. She was unsteady on her feet. She could hardly stand up
.
The young lady appeared to have been badly compromised by the hoodlums. Photo credit: The Punch
“She said some men raped her. Two men now came out of the front of the house where I found her. One asked me what I was shouting about. He said, ‘Because she was raped, is that why you will not let people ‘hear word’? Is she the first person that will be raped here?’ After all, I gave her Igbo (hemp) and she took it.’
“I was shocked. I could not believe that he had the confidence to tell me he was even the one who gave her Indian hemp. My sister said they forced her to take the Indian hemp and two of them raped her on a chair in front of a shop.”
Reports have it that the incident took place around 10pm same day at Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, around Pako Bus Stop after the young lady had gone to her aunt’s stall at about 9pm to collect some money. While recalling what they discussed prior to the incident, the aunt said: “I told her to wait so we could pack up together later in the evening. She did. But around 9.30pm when I was still not ready, she said she would go home.
She had been sick, so, I thought it was better. Some minutes after 10pm, I packed up and left.” Luckily, the two men who perpetrated the act (popularly identified as Wasiu and Monaco) were known faces on the street, but one of them (real name Olanrewaju Osinubi) boastfully stated that he gave her the substance to take before carrying out their dastardly act.
Explaining the ordeal further was Judith’s brother, who said: “While we were arguing there, I luckily saw a patrol van of policemen from the Dopemu Police Division passing by and I quickly approached them and explained how my sister was raped. “The policemen came down from their vehicle and because the crowd of boys in front of the house were threatening, one of the policemen cocked his gun and they all fled.
“But, I immediately grabbed the one who said he gave her Indian hemp to smoke (Osinubi) before he could escape. The police took him and we all went to the station.” “Before we knew what was happening, a man had come and said he was the lawyer of the one that was arrested (Osinubi). I was shocked when the suspect and his lawyer demanded that the case be transferred to the Isokoko Police Division, Agege, instead.
We who were the complainant had no say in the matter,” her brother added. Although reports say the police may have tried to sweep the matter under the carpet since Dolapo Badmus, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police command spokesperson, did not pick calls to her line, Esther Ogwu of the Esther Child Rights foundation, who was approached by the family for help on the matter, has taken up the matter and has notified the Sexual Assault department of the Lagos state inistry of Justice about the case. She said:
“We expect that an urgent step would now be taken on this matter. This is not a case that the police should even think of sweeping under the carpet. ‘This case is not just about her, it is about other young women and girls who are in danger as long as those men are still on the loose.
But I do not think the police have realised how terrible it must be for the victim that she may not get justice.”
This incident is coming just as the Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday, September 8, declared total war against rape and threatened anyone caught with proper prosecution.
The governor who spoke while receiving the first-ever all male rally against domestic and sexual violence in his office, noted that all men need to be sensitised on the need to eschew abuse of women because it is totally uncalled for.
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