A commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as okada has allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl in the Igbokoda community, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The suspect, whose identity is still unknown, has been declared wanted by the Ondo State Police Command.
The victim was selling puff-puff before the okada rider allegedly lured her into an abandoned building, where he forcibly defiled the primary five student, a source said.
The culprit is said to be a native of Kebbi State.
A source said the motorcyclist first went into hiding before leaving the state, adding that detectives had tracked him to Kebbi State.
The victim’s mother, who spoke about the development and went by the name Joy, said that the incident took place on May 19, 2023.
“At around a few minutes before 7 p.m., she came back home, but immediately I saw her. I knew something was wrong because she looked tired and exhausted. While she was trying to explain to me what happened to her when she fainted but was revived at the hospital.
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Olufumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the state police spokeswoman, confirmed the occurrence and said the command has begun tracking the suspect.
In another development, a reckless driver crushed three persons to death on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement (TRACE) Corps, said the driver of the Ford Mondeo car, coming from Quarry Road, lost control, ran over the roundabout at the Agbeloba junction and rammed into two motorcycle riders discharging passengers.
The car, it was gathered, later rammed into a container shop used for betting.
“Okada riders and a female passenger were killed instantly, due to the impact of the collision,” TRACE spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi said, regretting that “the driver escaped among the crowd who came as sympathisers to the scene.”
Akinbiyi said the victims’ bodies were taken away by family members, who identified them.
While commiserating with the families of the victims, Akinbiyi warned motorists to avoid excessive speed, particularly while driving within or around major towns.