A group of six rebels have connived and raped two sisters, 18-year-old Essiet, and 20-year-old Debby (pseudonyms), on Ogundero/ Dahomey streets in the Bariga area of Lagos State.
The incident happened on Thursday, May 28, 2015 while the victims were on their way from a hospital in the Oworonsoki area of the state.
Four among the perverts reportedly deflowered Essiet while two of them descended on Debby and forcefully had a carnal knowledge of her.
A source disclosed to Punch that the matter was reported at the Bariga Police Station and two of the suspects had been arrested.
Narrating her ordeal, Essiet said, “It happened on May 21 around 11pm. My sister and I went to give food to a family member who had just given birth to a baby in Oworonsoki.
“We were returning in the night when we saw the men. They had guns, cutlasses and other weapons.
“They waylaid us and said if we shouted they would kill us. They took us to a spot around Dahomey junction and raped us.”
On the other hand, Debby who was apparently so aggrieved wished that all the suspects be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
She said, “Two of them raped me, while four raped my sister.
“The third man wanted to rape me when a car approached. They all took to their heels. It was a painful experience. I have taken different medications and visited the hospital as well.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that one of the sisters spotted one of the rapists in the area a day after they committed the painful offence and alerted the police who subsequently nabbed him.
Debby said, “We were able to recognise him because when they were raping us, he took my phone and also shouted at me to stop looking at him. We saw his face clearly.
“I just want them to go to jail for what they have done to us.”
The arrested suspects, Mayowa Adeniji, 21, and Riliwan Oladapo, 25 denied having any knowledge of the incident.
Adeniji, who claimed to be an artiste, said he was arrested with Oladapo at a club in the Gbagada area of the state.
He said, “I am an artiste by profession and my stage name is D. Dot. I have released several albums that are being aired on radio stations. I have been doing music for the past 11 years and I have done collaborations with many artistes in this country.
“Though I am a street guy, I know what I am doing. On the day the police came to arrest me, I was having fun with my back-up artiste and there were five girls at my beck and call.
“I didn’t know why they came to arrest me until I got to the station and saw these small girls saying we raped them.
“I have never met them in my life and I don’t know what they are talking about.”
One of the relatives of the victims, Christopher Iheme, said relatives of the suspects had been pleading that they withdrew the case even though he maintained that justice must prevail.
He said, “We have spent a lot of money on their treatment. But that is not the issue.
“It is painful for us because the 18-year-old was deflowered by the gang.
“We are worried that her elder sister might be pregnant. But we will take her to the hospital for a checkup.
“The families of the two suspects have been begging and asking us to name our price. But we want them punished to serve as a deterrence to others like them,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the state police image maker, DSP Kenneth Nwosu said, “We have arrested the suspects and transferred them to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Panti, Yaba.
“I am also aware that the detectives have taken the suspects to court.”
