71-Year-Old Man Rapes 7-Year-Old Girl

A 71-year old, Alhaji Ganiyu Kolawole, has been
arrested in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for allegedly
raping a seven-year-old primary one pupil (names
withheld).

The suspect, who is a night guard and farmer, is said to be
fond of raping children. He was said to have been jailed
recently for a similar offence.
Report had it that the suspect lives alone in a dilapidated
house on Mission Road, Ayetoro Street, Oba-Ile, Akure
where he allegedly committed the act.
It was gathered that the suspect, who is from BenueState,
is being detained by the officers of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
The victim, who attends St. PaulAnnexPrimary School, Oba-
Ile was lured by the suspect into his room with biscuits.
Sources said the unsuspecting girl was returning from
school, Tuesday, and said to be famished.
She was said to have crossed the road to drink water from
a well along her route but when she discovered that the
water was dirty she continued her journey home when the
suspect beckoned on her.
The girl reportedly went to the suspect who was sitting in
front of his house and was lured into the room where she
was defiled.
Vanguard learnt that the Alhaji, who connived with another
suspect now at large, asked the girl what she wanted and
promised to give her not only cold water but biscuits.
While the girl was still trying to think of what the Alhaji had
promised her, the accomplice reportedly pushed her inside
the house while the Alhaji carried her covering her mouth
with apiece of cloth when she started shouting.
It was gathered that after defiling the girl, the Alhaji
cleaned her up as she was bleeding.

Suspect denies allegation

Confirming the arrest and detention of the suspect, the
image maker of the NSCDC, Mr Kayode Balogun, said:
"When Alhaji was interviewed, he said the girl approached
him to buy her biscuits as she was hungry which he
bought for her and denied raping the girl."
He said during investigation, it was discovered that the
suspect is a serial rapist who had been jailed for raping
another girl in the community.
He said: "When officers of the corps went to the house of
the accused for investigation, the residents of the area
testified that the man was fond of raping children and had
been jailed before for raping a girl in the area.
Balogun said after the matter was reported to the agency,
the girl was taken to the general hospital where it was
confirmed she had been defiled.
He said: "Investigation is still ongoing as the man is still in
our custody and will be taken to court."
It was gathered that the girl, whose father died few years
ago, lives with her mother in a one-room apartment in
Oba-Ile area of the state capital.