Unemployed man rapes 10-yr-old girl to death in Ogun

Ishau Arowolo, a 25-year-old unemployed man may soon have a full time employment in prison if he is convicted of allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl, Sofiatu Akilolu, and drowning her to wipe out the evidence.

The sordid incident that has seen Arowolo arrested by the Ogun State Police Command happened in Orisada-Eyo Community in Yewa South local government area of the state on April 1, 2015.

It was gathered that the suspect had lurked in a bush near the community river to perpetrate the act and when the victim, a Basic five pupil of the Local Government Authority Primary School, came to fetch water for her parents alongside her friend, identified as Abibatu, Arowolo pounced on her and sexually assaulted her.

He was said to have drowned the poor girl after the rape in the stream.

According to a resident, it was Abibatu that ran to the village to alert the residents of the sacrilegious act being perpetrated by Arowolo.

The resident who did not want his name in print said:

"The river is called Agude. It serves the community. That was not the first time little girls would go to fetch water at the place. On that day, the two girls met Ishau (Arowolo) and greeted him.

Later, they observed he was coming behind them. Suddenly, he grabbed Sofiatu and entered into a bush to carry out the act. The other girl ran back to the community to tell us.

When we got to the place, we did not find both of them, except their clothes and shoes. We began to comb the forest, until someone raised the alarm that Arowolo was hiding in the river. When we checked, he was found and pulled out.

Minutes later, we also found Sofiatu. He might have drowned the girl after he raped her. She was unconscious, while blood was dripping from her private parts."

Efforts to save the young girl proved abortive as she was pronounced dead in a nearby hospital she was rushed to.

Angry youths who learnt of the girl’s death, reportedly beat up Arowolo and would have lynched him but for the intervention of elders who prevailed on them to hand him over to the police instead.

The Baale of the community, Chief Adeogun Hussein, also lamented the sad incident:

"This occurrence is very strange in our area. It is unfortunate that someone would conceive such evil. The river, where the rapist hid, is very popular. We usually wash and bathe there. The river is also believed to have power to cure sicknesses.

The advice I have for parents is to take more care of their children, and anyone found committing such tragic act should also be ready to face terrible consequences."

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.

"The suspect has been transferred from Owode to the state police headquarters, Eleweran. We have also charged him to court.

But the mother of the victim has come to the police to say she is no longer interested in pursuing the matter. We are going to minute her stand to the Commissioner of Police to await further directives."