The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old artisan, Mukaila Adeyemo, over the alleged sexual assault of a minor in Ikire, Osun State.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the suspect allegedly committed the offence on two occasions after luring the victim under different pretences.
According to the police, the suspect was a friend of the victim’s grandmother and frequently visited her residence, where the minor lived.
Ojelabi said the first incident occurred in September 2026 when Adeyemo allegedly asked the girl to help him purchase some items. When she arrived at his residence, he reportedly took her into his room and sexually assaulted her.
The police spokesperson added that the second incident occurred on October 2, the victim’s birthday, when she reportedly visited the suspect at his workshop in the Ilupeju area of Ikire.
According to the statement, the girl had earlier asked Adeyemo for a birthday gift and received N1,000 from him. She subsequently bought biscuits for him and took them to his workshop.
The statement said the suspect allegedly took the minor to a nearby bush and sexually assaulted her.
Ojelabi explained that the suspect fled when he noticed that passersby had seen them. However, the passersby reportedly found the victim, heard her account of the incident and pursued the suspect before apprehending him and handing him over to the police.
The police spokesperson urged residents, particularly parents and guardians, to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities to the nearest police station.
He also encouraged members of the public to make use of established police emergency channels to report incidents and help prevent crime.
The arrest comes amid other reported cases of alleged sexual abuse of minors in the region.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Oyo State Police Command arrested a 17-year-old boy, Usman Dauda, over the alleged defilement of a three-year-old girl in Saki.
According to the report, the arrest followed a distress call lodged at the Saki Divisional Police Station on September 17, 2026, after the child went missing.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said a search operation led to the recovery of the child by the roadside, where preliminary investigations allegedly linked the suspect to the incident.
The Osun State Police Command has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected criminal activities to the appropriate authorities.
