A 76-year-old man identified as Baba Debo has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping and impregnating a 12-year-old girl in the Oworonsoki area of the state.
The suspect, it was learnt, was arrested in his home on Ogunnoiki Street on Saturday January 25 2014.
Nigerian Eye reports:
Our source, who visited the suspect’s home on Ogunnoiki Street, learnt that the man was arrested on Saturday.
The suspect’s children were not at home and were said to have gone to the police station to effect the release of their father.
Residents revealed that the victim, who turned 12 last December, was a fish hawker who frequents the street.
A resident, who gave his name only as Johnson, said the matter was being handled by the Oworonsoki Police Division.
He said, “The young girl hawks dry fish. On Saturday morning, the girl led her parents and policemen to Baba Debo’s house. She claimed the old man invited her to his room under the pretext of buying fish and raped her. The girl also claimed to be two-months pregnant.
“The policemen put the old man into a vehicle and whisked him away. He has been in detention since then.”
When our correspondent visited the police station on Alonge Street, the suspect was seen sitting behind the counter.
Police sources told our correspondent that investigations had yet to begin as the case was reported over the weekend.
“You know today is Monday and we just arrested the man on Saturday. We are waiting for the girl and her parents to come to the station and thorough investigations will begin,” a policeman said.
Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, proved abortive as calls made to her telephone rang out, while a text message sent to the phone was not replied as of the time of going to the press.
