Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State State has called for the immediate prosecution of the soldiers who allegedly raped a 300-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
Akeredolu, in a statement issued by Donald Ojogo, the Commissioner for Information on Saturday, described the alleged crime as “mindless” and “callous.”
Already, the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Akure, Ondo State has arrested the soldiers who were involved in the alleged rape of a female student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
The victim, who is a student of the Department of Religious and African Studies of the university, was allegedly gang-raped by some soldiers at a checkpoint in Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of the Akoko North-East local government area of Ondo State, on Wednesday.
A Lance Corporal said to have forced the student to alight from a commercial bus allegedly dragged the victim into a cubicle at the back of checkpoint, where she was allegedly assaulted sexually by other soldiers.
While commending Brig. Gen. Abubakar Zakari, Brigade Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, for his swift reaction to the issue, Akeredolu maintained that his administration would not condone such act, particularly from those who should be upholding the law.
The statement read: “The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) has urged the authorities of the Nigerian Army to immediately hand over to the Police for urgent prosecution, the soldiers arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a university student at the Akungba-Ikare military checkpoint.
“Mr. Governor particularly finds the alleged offence callous, mindless and heart aching that it was said to have been committed by soldiers whose presence ought to be a succour to the people, especially the vulnerable, in the face of the heightening wave of violence and insecurity in the country.
“It should be noted that the government of Ondo State under Arakunrin Akeredolu (SAN) shall do all within its powers to fight this bizarre menace of rape in the state. Rapists or those who wish to traverse this ignobly desecrating path will find Ondo State too hot as a refuge for such nefarious act. Government shall be firm and decisive.”
