Forty five-year-old Taiwo Bakare, probably had nursed his
sinister idea for a while. But on Monday, November 10, 2013, he decided to put
his plan into action.
sinister idea for a while. But on Monday, November 10, 2013, he decided to put
his plan into action.
When
the mother of 10-year-old Blessing (not real name) had left the shop where she
sells petty goods on Unity Street, Egan area of Igando, Lagos, Bakare, who is a
landlord on the street, walked up to the shop where the girl tended to her
mother’s wares. Under the pretext of buying something, he took the girl to his
house – a small bungalow at No 45 at the end of the long street – and defiled
her.
the mother of 10-year-old Blessing (not real name) had left the shop where she
sells petty goods on Unity Street, Egan area of Igando, Lagos, Bakare, who is a
landlord on the street, walked up to the shop where the girl tended to her
mother’s wares. Under the pretext of buying something, he took the girl to his
house – a small bungalow at No 45 at the end of the long street – and defiled
her.
No
one saw anything. No one heard a noise that evening on the street as Bakare
allegedly carried out his heinous crime. But as soon as Blessing’s mother
returned to the shop, she knew something was amiss because her daughter was
walking awkwardly.
one saw anything. No one heard a noise that evening on the street as Bakare
allegedly carried out his heinous crime. But as soon as Blessing’s mother
returned to the shop, she knew something was amiss because her daughter was
walking awkwardly.
“I
asked my daughter what happened to her. I pleaded with her to tell me. She then
told me that he (Bakare) came to buy something at the shop when I was not
around and took her home and slept with her,” the distraught woman told the
police.
asked my daughter what happened to her. I pleaded with her to tell me. She then
told me that he (Bakare) came to buy something at the shop when I was not
around and took her home and slept with her,” the distraught woman told the
police.
Blessing
reportedly told her mother and the police that she did not know what happened
after Bakare bought what he came for at the shop. She said what she knew next
was that he was on top of her in his house.
reportedly told her mother and the police that she did not know what happened
after Bakare bought what he came for at the shop. She said what she knew next
was that he was on top of her in his house.
The
girl’s mother did not waste time in reporting to the Igando Police Division,
where the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Ben Osuji, drafted some of his men to
apprehend the suspect.
girl’s mother did not waste time in reporting to the Igando Police Division,
where the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Ben Osuji, drafted some of his men to
apprehend the suspect.
“As
soon as the suspect saw policemen, he fled and ran into a canal in the area.
That was where we arrested him,” a police source told Saturday PUNCH.
soon as the suspect saw policemen, he fled and ran into a canal in the area.
That was where we arrested him,” a police source told Saturday PUNCH.
During
interrogation at the station, Bakare blamed the usual suspect – the devil – for
his crime.
interrogation at the station, Bakare blamed the usual suspect – the devil – for
his crime.
According
to a statement he made at the police station, he said he did not know what came
over him when he took the little child home and slept with her.
to a statement he made at the police station, he said he did not know what came
over him when he took the little child home and slept with her.
“I
have four children but they are not living with me. My wife is not living with
me as well. I would not pray for something like this to happen to my child
because my last child is 10 years old. I cannot pray for something like this to
happen to her. The devil made me do it,” he said.
have four children but they are not living with me. My wife is not living with
me as well. I would not pray for something like this to happen to my child
because my last child is 10 years old. I cannot pray for something like this to
happen to her. The devil made me do it,” he said.
Bakare,
a well built-man with a slight ‘pot belly’, could not deny the crime but the
life of the small girl seemed to have been changed forever.
a well built-man with a slight ‘pot belly’, could not deny the crime but the
life of the small girl seemed to have been changed forever.
The
police did not reveal the address of the victim’s family on the street in order
to protect her.
police did not reveal the address of the victim’s family on the street in order
to protect her.
When
our correspondent visited Unity Street, it was noticeably a very quiet
neighbourhood in the interior part of Igando, Lagos.
our correspondent visited Unity Street, it was noticeably a very quiet
neighbourhood in the interior part of Igando, Lagos.
The
residents revealed that Bakare is the Secretary of the landlord association of
the street.
residents revealed that Bakare is the Secretary of the landlord association of
the street.
The
suspect’s house, a barely finished two bedroom bungalow, where he allegedly
carried out his crime, is solely inhabited by him, a neighbour said.
suspect’s house, a barely finished two bedroom bungalow, where he allegedly
carried out his crime, is solely inhabited by him, a neighbour said.
“There
was no sign that he could do something like that. In fact, I have never thought
that he could be promiscuous let alone raping a small girl. We were shocked
when the police came for him,” the young lady said.
was no sign that he could do something like that. In fact, I have never thought
that he could be promiscuous let alone raping a small girl. We were shocked
when the police came for him,” the young lady said.
A
landlord two houses away from Bakare’s, gave a similar opinion of the suspect.
landlord two houses away from Bakare’s, gave a similar opinion of the suspect.
He
said there had never been a sign that he was capable of raping a minor and
there had never been any allegation of such act on the street.
said there had never been a sign that he was capable of raping a minor and
there had never been any allegation of such act on the street.
“He
lives alone but could we have appointed him secretary of the association if we
knew he was a dangerous man? Nobody has alleged rape here before unless they
refused to report it. Let him go and defend himself in the court,” he said.
lives alone but could we have appointed him secretary of the association if we
knew he was a dangerous man? Nobody has alleged rape here before unless they
refused to report it. Let him go and defend himself in the court,” he said.
The
police at Igando said the 45-year-old father of four was being held on charge
of defilement as they have also taken the victim for medical examination in an
undisclosed hospital.
police at Igando said the 45-year-old father of four was being held on charge
of defilement as they have also taken the victim for medical examination in an
undisclosed hospital.
Saturday PUNCH was
told he would soon be charged to court.
told he would soon be charged to court.
However,
Child Rights Activist, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, said it was simply “traumatic” to hear
of such allegation of someone of Bakare’s age.
Child Rights Activist, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, said it was simply “traumatic” to hear
of such allegation of someone of Bakare’s age.
She
laid some of the blame of the crime on the doorstep of the victim’s parents.
laid some of the blame of the crime on the doorstep of the victim’s parents.
Ogwu
said, “My opinion is that many parents are becoming very careless about the way
they leave their children to the mercy of strangers on the streets.
said, “My opinion is that many parents are becoming very careless about the way
they leave their children to the mercy of strangers on the streets.
“We
need to remember that children are not like adults. They can easily be deceived
by guile. If a child for example goes hungry, no one can say what a stranger
with a mere N50 can do to such a child.
need to remember that children are not like adults. They can easily be deceived
by guile. If a child for example goes hungry, no one can say what a stranger
with a mere N50 can do to such a child.
“Many
things cause a child to be sexually exploited. It is really annoying because
that girl has simply been traumatised.”
things cause a child to be sexually exploited. It is really annoying because
that girl has simply been traumatised.”
She
advised that the girl should be made to go through counselling, adding that the
parents needed to relocate from the area in order to prevent stigmatisation by
those who may hear about the case.
advised that the girl should be made to go through counselling, adding that the
parents needed to relocate from the area in order to prevent stigmatisation by
those who may hear about the case.
Source: Punch
