Ikoyi mass rape: Police arrest 4 students sexually assaulting colleagues
-Ojo Oluwasegun
The Lagos state government has confirmed the arrest of 4 students out of many indicted for carrying out a mass assault of their colleagues from Falomo Senior High School in Ikoyi.
The arrests follow public outrage that greeted the report of an incident witnessed by a social media user who said she encountered about 60 girls being harassed and raped in public.
The girls were secondary school leavers who had just finished their final examinations at the Falomo High School while the boys were believed to be students of Ireti Grammar School.
Ms. Michale Matthew said the boys, moving in groups, had chased after several girls, tearing their skirts and underwear with scissors before proceeding to rape them.
It took the effort of Ms. Matthew and some security men to rescue many of the girls and shepherd them to safety while she got the names of some of the major perpetrators; George and Abiodun.
Lagos state deputy governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule on Friday, confirmed the arrest of 4 students for sexual assault, explaining that “Students are expected to be of best behavior and shun all acts of violence and immorality that can undermine the policy of Government on discipline being entrenched in schools.”
Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi who heads the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) on Friday said her team had commenced investigations into the incident and visited the schools.
“Aside from investigation, there is also the legal aspect; possible prosecution to ensure deterrence. The Attorney-General has also given directives that the matter should be investigated,” she said.
The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Olarinde Famous-Cole has however surprisingly eliminated the possibility of rape, describing what happened as mere clashes between rival school gangs.
“As it is, there is no indication of rape. The report the division gave us is that students had rivalry and differences. The division called in some of the students to the station and would also be contacting their parents as part of the investigation. As I speak with you, the DPO said there is nothing like rape,” he said.
Punch reports that he added, “when we have evidence through the reports of the state government, parents and the victims, we would be able to shed more light on the nature of what took place that day.”
Some residents of the neighbourhood also told newsmen that such acts of sexual assault have regularly occurred and is seen as a tradition among school leavers.
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