A 20-year-old suspect, Tosin Kolade, who is currently being investigated by the Oyo State Police Command over the alleged rape and murder of a I7-year-old girl, Ifeoluwa Apanpa in Ibadan has revealed that he raped the victim inside the church.

Recounting what happened, Kolade, said because my mother is a member of the sanitation department in the Church, I had access to the church key.”

“On that day, while leaving home I picked up the entrance key, I left where I was learning a vocational trade for the church under the pretence that I was sick. 

“At the church, I pretended to be arranging the chairs of church when I saw Ifeoluwa Apanpa passing by. I sought her assistance unknown to her I had different agenda, she obliged.

“Immediately she entered inside the church I forcefully demanded her mobile phone and the password bus she resisted. This resulted in a scuffle between us. She fell and hit her head on the floor. This allowed me to rape before she gave up the ghost inside the church.” Kolade explained.

Ifeoluwa Apanpa was on her way to her church when the suspected rapist under a false pretence sought her assistance inside the auditorium of a pentecostal church at Olodo in Egbeda Local Government area of the state.

Confirming the suspect’s narration in their report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso stated: “On Friday, 17/09/2022 at about 8:30 pm, the Command through operatives attached to Iyana-Offa Divisional Police Headquarters were intimated about the sudden disappearance of Ifeoluwa, a 17-year old female who according to the report left for church at about 4 pm and was yet to return home.

“A search party was immediately organized to demystify all possible angles to the disappearance, while this was ongoing as a call was placed to the parents of the deceased by an unknown caller stating clearly the deceased had been abducted.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the lifeless body of the deceased who was later found beside a Bible School at Olodo area, with bloody genitalia, coupled with signs of struggling might have been manhandled before her eventual untimely death.

“In addition to the above, the Command has in its custody through diligent technological driven intelligence and investigation one Kolade Tosin 20yrs who has voluntarily confessed to committing the sinister action.”

He said the investigation was ongoing as the case is closely monitored by the state Criminal Investigation Department, CID, with the assurances of immediate updates as soon as it is concluded.

The alarming rate at which Nigerian youth are getting involved in murder is a cause for alarm and reflection. What will be the strategy of the next administration for curbing this menace to society?