Traditionalists protest, seal off suspected rapist’s homes in Ondo

TRADITIONAL worshippers from Ondo town in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo state, on Tuesday, trooped out in their numbers to condemn the recent alleged rape of two teenagers by five suspected rapists in the town.

The traditionalists who also visited the homes of the five suspects in the town sealed off their houses with palm fronds, while the occupants of the houses were ejected.

The traditionalists who were in their hundreds during their possessions caused traffic gridlock in the town for more than three hours, described the action of the five suspects as an abomination to the land.

Apart from this, the traditional worshippers offered special prayers while special cleansing to appease the gods was carried out at the house where the girls were allegedly raped.

The protesters said the cleansing and sealing off of the suspect’s residence became imperative to serve as the deterrent to others and to show that the people and residents of the town are against the barbaric acts by the suspected rapists.

They also said the protest was to send a signal to those who were calling for out of court settlement and mounting pressure on the Police command in the state to withdraw the case against the five men who allegedly raped the two teenagers.

The protesters who rained curses on the suspects also frowned over the number of rape cases in Ondo town and said: “there is need to put a stop to this incessant rape and other social vices in Ondo town, we are honourable people and this is alien to our culture and custom.”

They called on the men of the State Police Command not to bow to any pressure in releasing the suspects without facing trial.

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It will be recalled that five suspects who included: Bode Akinsiku, Olabanji Femi, Abiodun Ayodele, Fadairo Wahab and Adedayo Adebayo have been facing trial over their involvement I’m the rape of two teenagers in Ondo town.

The suspects were alleged to have lured the girls into their house, tortured, raped and recorded the process and posted it on social media.

The five suspects were arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate court and were ordered to be remanded in prison custody, but the 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 suspected rapists.