POLICE ARREST ISLAMIC CLERIC OVER ALLEGED DEFILEMENT OF MINOR IN OSUN

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By: Sefiu Ajape

The Osun State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of an Islamic cleric, identified as Kadiri, for allegedly defiling a minor in the Babasanya-Araka area of Ede.

The incident sparked outrage in the community, prompting a mob to assault the suspect before he was apprehended.

Speaking with Hotjist, the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said police operatives were dispatched to the scene following a report.

“The matter was reported, and we deployed operatives to the scene. When our men got there, the Amotekun corps who had arrested the suspect handed him over to us,” Ojelabi stated.

“So, he is in our custody already. But we want the Division to investigate before the matter is transferred to SCID.

“That is all that is available for now,” Ojelabi said.

Amotekun spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, while giving more information about the incident, said, “The suspect is an Imam of a mosque.

“He also has an Arabic school in the area where he is teaching students Arabic. Further investigation is being done by the police.”

On how the suspect was arrested, a resident of Babasanya-Araka, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said the victim was discovered bleeding, prompting her mother to inquire from her what had happened as she had gone missing a few hours earlier.

“The victim, about 8 years old, was missing for some hours on Saturday, and her mother was already looking for her.

“When she was found, she was crying and bleeding.

“She was taken to the hospital in Ede, where she was checked,” the resident said.