The police in Ogun State have arrested a cobbler, Olamide Babayemi, for
allegedly attempting to kill a youth corps member after raping her.
Olamide, 25, allegedly raped the 22-year-old Microbiology graduate in an
apartment on the Greenland Estate in Mowe.
The suspect also allegedly used a phone to record the nude girl after the
rape and circulated the video among his friends.
Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said in a statement that the suspect was
arrested following complaints by the victim, who reported the incident at the
Redeemed Camp Police Station.
Police Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Abimbola, said the girl told the police
that she gave the cobbler N18,000: 00,
having known him for quite some time, to buy a phone for her, explaining
that the cobbler neither bought the phone nor refunded her money.
According to the police spokesman, the suspect later called her on the
phone on January 2 to come and pick the phone at a location within Greenland
Estate and she was raped afterwards upon visiting the estate to meet the
cobbler.
Abimbola said: “The suspect suddenly called her on January 2 to come to
Greenland Estate in Mowe and collect the phone. On getting there, the suspect
forcefully removed her clothes and raped her.
“The victim stated further that after he forcefully had carnal knowledge of
her, the suspect soaked her clothes in water and used his phone to record her
nakedness, which he sent to some of his friends.
“When he realised that the victim might report him to the police, he made
an attempt to kill her, but she was lucky when the suspect’s mother called him
on the phone to come and meet her at the gate of the estate, which gave her the
opportunity to escape.
“The DPO Redeemed Camp Station, CSP Chris Amanyi, mobilised his detectives
to go after the suspect who took to his heels immediately, but he was arrested
on January 4 when his mother brought him to the station.
“On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to be the victim’s boyfriend,
confessed committing the crime, but blamed the girl for calling it quit with
him after she graduated from the university.
“When asked for his reasons behind recording the nakedness of the girl, he
said he did so to prevent her from reporting him to the police.”
Police Commissioner Kenneth Ebrimson has given a directive that the suspect
be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department
for further investigation and prosecution.
