The Joint Community Development Association (JCDA), an umbrella body comprising many communities in Ibeshe land, on July 12, 2016, sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to save them from the incessant rape being carried out by a serial rapist in the area, named Badoo.
In the letter, which was signed by the Secretary of the Joint CDA, Ibeshe land, MBA Ogunlana and Chairman, Okeota Joint CDA, Pastor Adelakun Abayomi, they accused the high profile people in the area of sponsoring the evil that was going on and plotting to release the culprit, Badoo. While chronicling the incidents of rape in Oke-Ota community, they recalled that on May 29, 2016 by 2a.m, an 86year old woman was raped by the rapist and she ended up in the hospital and was discharged after five days. According to them, the incident was reported at the Ipakodo police station. The photograph is shown in appendix A.
They also recounted that a Ghanaian lady named Grace was raped and brutalized around 3a.m on Sunday, June 5, 2016 and she later died in LASUTH, which prompted the Ghanaian High Commissioner to visit the area twice. Her photograph is shown in appendix B and C.) Appendix D is also the photograph of a woman, who was also attacked by Badoo. The photograph in appendix E was after the attack. A 63 year old woman and an 8 year old girl also fell victim of the serial rapist on July 9, 2016. The girl’s mouth and face were badly damaged, they stated. The photograph of the two victims was shown as appendix F and G and the scene of the attack was attached as appendix H.
They recalled that by July 11, 2016, the 8 year old girl was referred to Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi but she was rejected and later admitted at LASUTH. While bemoaning the incessant attacks and rapes on their women, they said many women have been moving out of the community, while equally expressing surprise that following the protest carried out by women to the palace of Olubeshe, the King claimed to have been briefed by the Baale a day before the protest. In their opinion, the incident had been going on for more them two years, and all accusing fingers had been pointing to the serial rapist named Badoo, who was arrested and released. They are not happy that the JCDA and CDA are not being carried along in the efforts to fish out the serial rapist and find final solution to their problems.
They are appealing to the state government to help in the girl’s treatment and to come to their rescue to hop this situation in the bud to avoid women deserting their community. They called on the Governor to save their soul and ensure that justice takes its rightful course. In an interview with Oriwu Sun, the Chairman of Oke-Oota Joint CDA, Pastor Adelakun Abayomi, said that Owode – Ibeshe community was a peaceful community before these unfortunate incidents started happening, stating that if they don’t stop this criminal now, Owode-Ibeshe would be completely deserted.
According to another resident of Owode-Ibeshe, Mr. Femi Emmanuel, “It is only the Almighty God that could deliver us from him because he had been planning about how to execute the plan and provide an escape route for himself.” Based on this, Mr. Emmanuel said, it would be difficult for the police to capture him. Speaking with another resident, Mrs. Adewale, she accused influential people in the community of involving in the case and also opined that without identifying them, there was nothing anybody could do about Badoo.
Another stakeholder, who refused to disclose her name, said the government should provide electricity at night to all the communities at Owode – Ibeshe so that no one would perpetrate evil under the cover of darkness.
Also speaking, Halimat, another resident, said the government and community Chairmen should provide whistle for all the members of the community so that whenever they see anything fishy around their environment, they would blow the whistle to alert security operatives.