A 17-year-old boy, Usman (surname withheld) is currently on the run and being searched for after he allegedly defiled a five-year-old girl, ‘Labisi (surname withheld), who is the granddaughter of his neighbour at Foko area in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the defilement was carried out last week Thursday when the suspect, popularly called “Booda Ajao” by children, allegedly lured the girl with biscuits and sexually assaulted her.

Unknown to ‘Labisi, the 17-year-old half-brother of one of her playmates, a four-year-old boy, had been lusting for her tiny frame, and on the fateful day, he decided to carry out his plan.

Noticing that no adult was around, and his young brother was playing with ‘Labisi, Usman went for his Plan A. He bought biscuits and peanut burger, beckoned on the two children, and offered them the snacks. The children, happy to get the freebies, joyfully munched the snacks.

As they were doing this, Usman effected Plan B. He allegedly took the children inside his mother’s room, asked ‘Labisi to lie down, removed her underwear and his own trousers, baring his manhood. Then, he allegedly knelt in front of the girl, crouched over her and defiled her.

The distraught mother of the girl, Ms Ishola, aged 35, who narrated the incident to Saturday Tribune, explained: “My daughter used to stay with my mother on her return from school. My mother lives in the house next to that of Usman’s mother, and my daughter used to play with Usman’s four-year-old half-brother as they belong to the same age group.

“As I learnt, last Thursday, the two children were playing outside together in the evening when Usman came with biscuits to lure my daughter, ‘Labisi, inside, followed by his younger brother, unnoticed by anyone.

“The following day, my mother was bathing my girl when she started crying, saying that her private part was hurting her. That rang an alarm in my mother’s head, and she immediately asked my daughter what happened to her.

Usman’s mother and Labisi’s mother

Labisi told her grandmother of how the teenager asked her to lie down, removed his trousers and her own pants, and laid on her, and told his younger brother to leave the room when the boy was watching his elder brother’s act. My daughter said that Usman put his manhood in her private part and started thrusting.

“The narration made my mother to raise the alarm. The young boy was called, and he confirmed that his brother laid on ’Labisi.”

When summoned, Saturday Tribune gathered that the teenager denied defiling the little girl, which angered the people around as they attempted to beat him.

Ms Ishola added: “My daughter has not changed her words since the incident happened. When I came to my mother’s place, I was told of what happened in my absence and my daughter repeated all she had said. I could not bear the sexual assault on my young daughter, so I went to Health Centre, Foko, for medical examination. On Sunday, we went to Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, to conduct tests which confirmed bruises in my daughter’s private part.”

When Saturday Tribune spoke with the little girl, she repeated everything her mother had said, adding: “Booda Ajao was doing like this (making thrusting gestures).”

Usman, who reportedly disappeared after the incident, is still at large. The girl’s family, it was learnt, went to the Amotekun Corps at Ibadan South West Local Government Area in Oyo State Command to report the case.

“We got information that he came on Wednesday to pack his clothes, but his mother said she was yet to see him since he ran away,” Ms Ishola said.

Saturday Tribune also contacted the runaway boy’s mother, Madam Ganiya (surname withheld), and she confirmed the disappearance of her son, claiming that she didn’t plan it or knew nothing about it.

“My son is in SSS3 and learning a vocation. Last Saturday, I was told of how he defiled the five-year-old girl and was beaten for doing such a thing. I also spanked him. On Sunday, he told me he was going to the shop where he is learning shoe sales. In annoyance, I told him not to let me see him return, as what he did was filthy. This was because he followed us to Adeoyo for a medical examination conducted on the little girl on that same Sunday. I’ve bought the medications prescribed for her,” the mother stated.

Showing displeasure to what her son allegedly did, Madam Ganiya said it was strange because in the neighborhood, they live communally. I used to give the girl’s grandmother the key to my room to keep for me. We are both tenants in houses next to each other. The girl used to come to us to play with my four-year-old son,” she said.

Usman’s mother maintained that “I didn’t take my son away to hide. If I were to be the one it happened to, I would not also have taken it kindly. I just plead that the government should have mercy on me.

“I can’t say precisely where my son is now. I’ve been searching for him. I heard that he was in Omi Adio with my mother and I informed Amotekun officers. I have told them to go for him and punish him accordingly if he is found. How can I hide him in my mother’s house after his embarrassing act?”

When contacted, the second-in-command at the IBSWLG, Sikiru Apanpa, confirmed the report of the case. He said that the suspect’s mother was invited for questioning and advised to look for the son. (Saturday Tribune, excluding headline)

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