75-year-old farmer rapes minor with autism

The police in Ogun State have arrested a 75-year-old farmer, Nurudeen Koleosho, for the alleged rape of an 11-year-old Primary 2 pupil, Bola (pseudonym) suffering from autism.

Koleosho was said to have waylaid the girl around his farm in Shomeke community, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, around 9am on Monday and forced her into a shed, where he reportedly raped her.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Bola had been living with her grandmother since November 2015 when her father died.

She had gone to play in the farm with her friends on that day, but was left behind during which Koleosho approached her.

He had reportedly attempted to lure her with N1,050. It was learnt that she refused to follow the suspect inside after collecting the money, which made the septuagenarian to resort to force.

Bola was said to have cried home and relayed the incident to her grandmother, Mrs. Bose Adebayo, who followed her to Koleosho’s house.

Bose said, “She came home from the farm with N1,050 and was crying. I asked her what happened. She said an old man forced her to lie on the floor and put his manhood in her private parts. She could not talk properly because of her health condition. I told her to take me to the man’s house and she brought me to Mr. Koleosho.”

Bola’s uncle, Peter Adebayo, said the farmer initially denied the allegation, but later confessed to the police at the Owode division which arrested him. He added that the girl was taken to the Owode General Hospital for medical tests.

He said, “I was informed of the incident on the telephone. The girl is 11 and is suffering from autism. That is why her education is slow; she is in primary 2. She had gone to the farm with her playmates on that day, but they left her there. She said she shouted but there was no one to come to her rescue. It was my mother (Bose) and brother who took her to the hospital for treatment and tests because she was complaining of pains. The doctor’s report is with the police and we were told that sperm was found in her private parts.

“I went to the station and he (the suspect) confessed before the Divsional Police Officer that he raped her. He, his family members and elders of the community have been begging me to let go of the case, saying that he was an old man. The money he gave her is with the police as an exhibit.”

A police source at the station said Koleosho claimed he could not explain what led him to commit the alleged crime.

“The man initially denied but at a point, he opened up and said it was the devil’s handiwork. The doctor confirmed that there was sperm in her private parts,” the source said.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said the man would be charged with indecent assault.

He said, “It is a case of indecent assault. The man actually wanted to have carnal knowledge of the girl, who is deaf and dumb. It is a serious matter and we are going to charge the man to court.”