Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ordered the immediate prosecution of a Soldier who raped a female 300-level student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko within the state.
The Governor in a press release stated that the culpable soldiers should be brought before the Police to face the full extent of the law for the crimes committed.
Governor Akeredolu described the crimes as heinous because the soldiers who are supposed to inspire safety were the ones involved in such acts. He commended Brig-Gen. Abubakar Zakari for capturing the offending Soldier and describing their capture as heartwarming insisted on the immediate handover of the culprits to the Nigerian Police for justice to be served.
Read his statement below:
“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, the Governor says.
“The Governor describes as heart-warming, the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of this case involving the soldiers at the Akungba-Ikare checkpoint. This is even as he salutes the swiftness of the Brigade Commander who ensured the seamless apprehension of those allegedly involved.
“Reassuring as this effort appears, Governor Akeredolu is unequivocal and unwavering in his insistence that the suspects be handed over to the Nigeria Police for immediate prosecution. The full weight of the law must be tested in this particular case to serve as a deterrent to others who seek to undesirably, take advantage of the unprotected,”.