Alleged Student’s Rape: Akeredolu Asks Army To Handover Suspects To Police For Prosecution

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Following the alleged rape of a female student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, by some soldiers at a checkpoint in Ikare-Akoko, on Wednesday, the Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged the authorities of the Nigerian Army to immediately hand over to the Police for urgent prosecution, the soldiers involved in the crime.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo at the weekend and made available to journalists in Akure.

The statement reads, “Mr. Governor particularly finds the alleged offence callous, mindless and heartaching that it was said to have been committed by soldiers whose presence ought to be a succour to the people, especially the vulnerable, in the face of the heightening wave of violence and insecurity in the country.

“It should be noted that the Government of Ondo State under Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN shall do all within its powers to fight this bizzare menace of rape in the State. Rapists, or those who wish to traverse this ignobly desecrating path will find Ondo State too hot as a refuge for such nefarious act. Government shall be firm and decisive, the Governor says.

“The Governor describes as heart-warming, the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of this case involving the soldiers at the Akungba-Ikare checkpoint. This is even as he salutes the swiftness of the Brigade Commander who ensured the seamless apprehension of those allegedly involved.

“Reassuring as this effort appears, Governor Akeredolu is unequivocal and unwavering in his insistence that the suspects be handed over to the Nigeria Police for immediate prosecution. The full weight of the law must be tested in this particular case to serve as a deterrent to others who seek to undesirably, take advantage of the unprotected”.