Mathilda Omonaiye
After a reign of terror in which no fewer than nine women were gang raped and robbed near Charity Bus Stop in Oshodi, Lagos, four arrested felons have told how they made last Christmas hell for their victims.
Arrested during a weekend raid by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the suspected outlaws were identified as 27-year-old Sunday John, Saviour Daniel (23), Daniel Olayemi (18) and Abdulwahab Yusuph (17).
According to the police, John was the gang leader.
“He confessed in his statement at the police station that his gang had raped nine women near the bus stop,” Lagos police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos confirmed to Newsmakers.
The police arrest had actually started with Olayemi last Tuesday evening, during a fight with another group of boys over a stolen Samsung Galaxy Tablet in Oshodi.
Olayemi had allegedly told police investigators that he stole the tablet from a lady that was gang raped during one of their operations at Charity Bus stop.
The revelation prompted an early morning raid of the area, and three other members of the gang were nabbed.
He allegedly disclosed to the police that they were four in the gang, and that in the last two weeks, they had robbed 12 passers-by and raped no fewer than nine ladies in the bush.
“In all the rape cases, our leader, John takes the initiative and the lead. He dragged the ladies into the bush before calling us to take our turns. He is the leader of the gang. None of us dare challenge him. He doesn’t share with us whatever we made from the robberies. That was why I stole the Samsung tablet from that lady,” Olayemi said at a police parade.
He added, “We also robbed men too. I participated in the robbery of about three men at the Charity Bus Stop. In all the instances, John took a commanding lead, seizing the victims and dragging them into the bush where we either rape or took their valuables.”
Daniel said, “I didn’t partake in all the rape. I was only involved on three occasions. John was the one who dragged them into the bush and undress them. He took the lead and ordered us to take turns.
“He is our leader. He is stronger than us and he instructed us to have sex with them. Whenever, he is exhausted, he ordered us to take our turn. I go after him. It is the youngest of us, Olayemi that came last. At times, they distanced themselves whenever we were taking turns.”
John however told the police that his gang was not the only one involved. He said that other gangs from Agege and Agbado on the outskirts of Lagos also operate at Charity Bus Stop.
Badmos said that the suspects were helping the police in the pursuit of other members of the gang.
Meanwhile, the suspects have been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID), Mr. Bolaji Salami.