By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 19-year-old boy, Jamiu Akande,
for allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl at Pakata Area in Ilorin.

A statement by the spokesperson of the NSCDC, ASC Ayoola Michael Shola, said: “On Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, at approximately 20:30hrs, the case was reported to the gender unit of the command by Alhaja Yusuf Mariam Joke, The Director of Child Ministry of Woman Affairs, following a distress call from Babareke House, Ipata Oloje Area in Ilorin.

“Without delay, the command swiftly responded and apprehended the suspect after painstaking efforts by officers of the command.”

Preliminary investigation, according to the statement, revealed that the suspect frequently visited the victim’s residence under the guise of seeing his friend, thereby gaining access to the victim, adding that the suspect lured the victim to an uncompleted building on the 1st of December 2023 and sexually assaulted her.

Subsequently, on April 16th, 2024, the statement added, the suspect sent the victim to buy bread for him and then led her to a dilapidated building where he subjected her to another sexual abuse.

“The victim disclosed that the suspect has been sexually assaulting her since December 2023, while the suspect confessed to the crime and will be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction for onward prosecution,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Commandant Umar has expressed great dismay at the alarming surge in cases of rape and defilement of minors, stressing that those who commit such awful acts would be severely punished.

He, therefore, urged parents and guardians to remain watchful and ensure that their children are always in close proximity to them.