by Yinka Ojo

An 19-year-old man, Arogundade Opeyemi has been remanded in prison by the Magistrate Court in Ibadan until 12 September for allegedly molesting a 3-year-old girl in a church premises.

The Oyo State Police Command released a statement that the suspect allegedly had sex with the daughter of his neighbour inside the church at Kuola area of Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State on the 2 August.

In the statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, the suspect reportedly took the girl to the church located very close to the house at about 8:00 pm under the guise of playing with her.

“The suspect laid the little girl on the floor in the church, tore her pant and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. Immediately he perpetrated the act, he ran away, leaving the crying girl on the floor of the church. When her mother heard her outcry, she rushed out to inquire from her daughter what had happened and she gesticulated by touching her private part and mentioning the suspect’s name.”

The statement also revealed that medical reports confirmed that the girl’s hymen had been broken, and the area of trauma on the vulva confirmed the defilement.

“Detectives hunted for the suspect and he was eventually arrested. The suspect has been arraigned in a magistrate court for an offence of defilement which is contrary to and punishable under section 218 of the criminal code cap 38 vol. 11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”

The case has been fixed for hearing on the 12 September.

Kolapo Olapoju