A 17-year-old boy, identified as Usman (surname withheld), is currently being sought after he was accused of sexually abusing a five-year-old girl, Labisi (surname withheld), in the Foko area of Ibadan.
According to The Nigerian Tribune, the incident occurred last Thursday. The suspect, who is said to be known among children in the neighbourhood as “Booda Ajao,” allegedly lured the young girl with biscuits before carrying out the act.
Usman, who is reportedly the half-brother of one of the victim’s playmates, is said to have taken advantage of a moment when no adults were present. While the children were playing, he allegedly bought snacks for them in order to gain their trust.
When he noticed no adult was around at that moment, and his young brother was playing with Labisi, Usman went for his initial plan — he bought biscuits and peanut burger, beckoned on the two children, and offered them snacks he bought. The children, happy to get the freebies, joyfully munched the snacks.
While the children were distracted with the snacks, Usman reportedly moved to the next stage of his plan. He is alleged to have taken them into his mother’s room and separated the girl, where the assault was said to have occurred.
Authorities are treating the incident seriously as investigations continue.
The distraught mother of the girl, Ms Ishola, aged 35, who narrated the incident to Saturday Tribune, explained: “My daughter used to stay with my mother on her return from school. My mother lives in the house next to that of Usman’s mother, and my daughter used to play with Usman’s four-year-old half-brother as they belong to the same age group.
“As I learnt, last Thursday, the two children were playing outside together in the evening when Usman came with biscuits to lure my daughter, ‘Labisi, inside, followed by his younger brother, unnoticed by anyone.”
The next day, the mother discovered that her daughter was in distress during a bath, complaining of pain in her private area. This prompted immediate concern for the grandmother, who asked the girl what had happened. The child, Labisi, recounted an alarming incident involving a teenager. She explained how he had instructed her to lie down, removed his pants as well as hers, and proceeded to lay on top of her while telling his younger brother to leave the room. According to her account, the boy had acted inappropriately by inserting his private part into hers and thrusting.
This revelation led the grandmother to raise alarm bells. When the young boy was brought in for questioning, he confirmed that his brother had indeed laid on Labisi.
However, when the teenager was summoned, he denied the accusations of assault, which incited anger among those present, who attempted to confront him physically.
Labisi’s mother, Ms. Ishola, stated that her daughter had maintained her narrative consistently since the event. Upon visiting her mother’s home, she learned of the incident and heard her daughter’s account, which remained unchanged. Unable to accept the sexual violation of her young daughter, she decided to seek medical attention at Health Centre, Foko. On Sunday, they went to Adeoyo Hospital in Yemetu for tests that revealed bruising in the child’s private area.
When interviewed, the little girl reiterated her account, even mimicking the actions of the suspect by making thrusting gestures. It was noted that Usman, the teenager in question, had vanished following the incident. The family sought assistance from the Amotekun Corps at the Ibadan South West Local Government Area in Oyo State to report the matter.
Ms. Ishola mentioned that they had received information indicating that he had returned on Wednesday to collect his belongings, although his mother claimed she had not seen him since he fled. Read_More…