Independence Day Tragedy: 11-year old girl raped to death in Ejigbo
By Abolaji Adebayo
Police operatives of Ejigbo have arrested about five suspects in connection with the death of an 11 years old girl who was reportedly raped to death by some unknown people in an uncompleted building under Powerline at Olarewaju Street, Ejigbo Lagos.
It was gathered that the victim, Favour Okechukwu, was sent on an errand to buy carton of gala for her mummy on Wednesday but up till when her corpse was found, the girl did not return.
It was reported that her father, Mr. John Okechukwu started searching for her when he came back from work but she was nowhere to be found until her lifeless body was eventually found on Thursday in the uncompleted building.
The residents of the community said such incident has been taking place in the environment before now as hoodlums kidnapped girls and raped them.
One of the suspects, Tabi (a.k.a Tboy) from Cross River State, who claimed the ownership the building, said he was not around when the incident took place, but came back around 9pm and saw his door open, only for him to see the girl’s body on the floor.
He explained that it has always been a recurring experience for him to meet his door opened whenever he comes back home.
The police led by the DPO, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi said investigation is ongoing on the matter, stating that they are working to fish out all culprits of the sad act.
The police also said there is no cohesion among the community towards alerting the police of previous acts, “just today, we started hearing that the said house has become a regular hub of Indian hemp smoking and raping which none of the residents in the densely populated enclave ever informed the police.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Hon. Monsuru Bello Obe who personally went to the scene of the incident for spot assessment, was full of sorrow over the death of the girl as he vowed that all illegal shanties in the community would be demolished especially the buildings under Powerline.
He charged the Community Development Association (CDA) to be on the alert to ensure they work with the security agents and the local government in order to eradicate criminality within the area, while promising that he would ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
The CDA executive members who expressed worry over the incident requested for the approval of vigilante group following the increase in the criminal activities in the community.
In the same vein, the President International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Woman Development Foundation, Bar. (Mrs) Helen Ibeji appealed to all security agents and government to quickly come to the rescue of the girl children as they are the most victims of such crime.
She posited that if the girl child is not protected, the issue of rape and murder for rituals would be on the increase, as she calls on parents and guardians to always see to the welfare of their female wards.
The father of the victim, who was weeping profusely, urged the government and police to expedite action in finding the culprits.
