A man simply identified as Ajibode has allegedly raped one Olayemi Agbeloba in the Eruwa community, in the Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Sixteen-year-old Agbeloba, who reportedly committed suicide after the incident, was until her death an apprentice of Ajibola’s wife.
Ajibode, who is a welder, was said to have threatened to kill the minor if she revealed what happened to anyone.
It was gathered that the minor had been learning fashion design from Ajibode’s wife and was said to have been living with her boss to also assist her with domestic chores.
But Ajibola took advantage of the minor’s situation and raped her on June 23, while she was sleeping in a room at the couple’s residence.
The minor, who was said to have been traumatised by Ajibode’s action, reportedly drank a substance suspected to be insecticide and died from the toxic substance.
Agbeloba’s father, Sunday, who had been inconsolable since he got to know of the circumstances that informed her daughter’s decision to allegedly take her life, said in a bid to get justice for his late daughter, he reported the case at the Eruwa Police Station.
He, however, bemoaned that the police, while investigating the case, arrested Ajibode, adding that the suspect had been boasting that nothing will happen to him.
Sunday said, “Olayemi went to Ajibode’s wife’s house early this year because my wife and I decided that she should learn handiwork. She had been staying with Ajibode and his wife for about six months and suddenly, we were told that she died.
“Later, we heard Ajibode had raped my daughter after which she drank an insecticide. This was confirmed by medical workers at the hospital she was taken to for treatment after she drank the insecticide. At the hospital, we were also told that before my daughter died, she said Ajibode raped her and that was what made her drink the insecticide.
“I reported the case at the Eruwa Police Station and he was arrested and released. Since then, Ajibode has been claiming that he knows people and that there is nothing we could do to him. He raped my daughter and pushed her to commit suicide and he’s still very confident that he would go scot-free.”
Speaking amid tears, Agbeloba’s mother, Folake, while demanding justice for her daughter, said her daughter once confessed to her that Ajibode usually disturbed her while sleeping at night.
“She once told me that her boss’s husband usually disturbed her at night when she retired to sleep in their house. I wanted to make her come back home but also wanted her to finish her apprenticeship. Look at what they did to my child?”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Asewale Onifeso, said, “A case of homicide was reported at the Eruwa Divisional Police Headquarters. It is also more like a case of defilement. However, investigations have been escalated. Further updates would be provided accordingly.”