A 22-year-old schoolteacher at the Blessed Peace School in Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, identified only as Prosper, has been arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly sodomising a 10-year-old boy at the school.
A PUNCH Metro correspondent learnt on Sunday that before performing the crime, the suspect allegedly told the pupil to behave like a girl and take off his trousers after luring him to a solitary spot in the school.
Our correspondent’s investigation also revealed that the suspect had enticed the survivor to the location on October 18, 2024, by claiming he intended to take him to a spelling bee and art competition where the survivor would earn millions of naira and possibly even travel abroad.
An eyewitness privy to the incident narrated, “The teacher raped the boy at the school, convincing him by saying he would be enrolled in an art competition where they would win a substantial amount of money.
“He took the boy to a class and ordered him to act like a girl. He then told him to pull his trousers down and close his eyes. He penetrated this boy and told him he should not tell anyone, assuring him that he would win the competition.”
A source familiar with the suspect’s arrest revealed to our correspondent that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, while attempting to commit a similar act with another pupil at the school.
“An 11-year-old boy, who is more outspoken, informed his parents that he no longer wanted to attend the school. When his parents pressed for a reason, he revealed that a teacher had been threatening him, warning that something bad would happen if he didn’t comply with the teacher’s demands.
“This led the parents, school management, and other teachers to question other pupils, though they initially found no leads. However, a teacher recalled that the suspect often showed particular interest in one boy, frequently buying him gifts and giving him preferential treatment.
“It was at this point that the survivor confessed that the suspect had lured him with promises of a spelling bee and art competition, claiming he would win N2m and be taken abroad. The school was unaware of any such competitions mentioned by the suspect,” the eyewitness said.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was initially taken into custody by the police at the Idimu Division before being transferred to the Police Gender Unit for subsequent prosecution.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Sunday, Mrs Ololade Ajayi, the founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on combating gender-based violence and the key advocate behind the arrest, expressed concerns that the police officers at the Gender Unit were attempting to hinder the prosecution of the suspect.
She said, “Since the case was transferred to the Gender Unit, it has not been sent to court. I visited their office last Wednesday to inquire about the case. When I asked why it hadn’t been transferred, the inspector in charge explained that the unit was still conducting a preliminary investigation and that the boy’s mother had not returned.
“I informed the investigating police officer that the family was financially struggling and offered to cover the transport costs to the crime scene whenever they were ready. She assured me that she would call on Friday.
“On Friday, I called her to check if they were ready to go so I could arrange an Uber to take them to the crime scene, but she told me she was going somewhere else and would not be coming. I suspect there may be foul play involved.”
Although the spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not answer his phone or respond to the text messages sent by our correspondent, the head of the Idimu Police Division, Chief Superintendent of Police, Gladys Faniyi, confirmed to PUNCH Metro that the case had been referred to the Police Gender Unit. She directed our correspondent to the unit for any further updates.
“I have referred the case to the Gender Department. If you need any information, please direct your enquiries to that department,” Faniyi stated.
In July, a 27-year-old teacher named Bright Emelogu was sentenced to life in prison by an Ikeja, Lagos, Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for sodomising his 14-year-old pupil.
(Punch)
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