THE Ondo State Police Command, on Monday, alleged that some prominent individuals in the state have been mounting pressure on the command to withdraw the case against five men who allegedly raped two teenagers in the state.
The five suspects who included: Bode Akinsiku, Olabanji Femi, Abiodun Ayodele, Fadairo Wahab and Adedayo Adebayo were alleged to have lured the teenage girls into their house, tortured, raped and recorded the process and posted it to social media.
The five suspects were arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate court and were ordered to be remanded in prison custody.
But a source expressed the fear that the two victims might have been abducted in order not to be unavailable in court on the adjournment date, as their where about remained unknown.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Femi Joseph, said the command was facing a lot of pressure on the matter and said some ‘power that be’ were doing everything possible to frustrate the case but the command had remained adamant.
Joseph said, “They have tried so much to kill the case but we did not allow that, now they are doing another thing behind scene to ensure that they (victims ) don’t come to court and with the hope that if they don’t come to court, the case would die a natural death.
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“But we are assuring the people that the case will be prosecuted and the girls would be adequately protected to ensure that they are present in court. Hopefully, we will ensure their presence in court at the next date of adjournment.”
Speaking on the whereabouts of the two girls, the PPRO explained that the girls were not in the police custody but they were safe, adding that they were deliberately taken away from the public glare so as not to be easily assessable to the people who would pressurise them.
He said “The girls are not missing, we are facing a lot of pressure on their matter, but on our part, we are assuring of their safety, nothing would happen to them. This is a case of national interest and we will need them to diligently prosecute the case.
“We will do our best to ensure their safety and also to ensure that they cooperate with us until the case is finally determined.”
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