Four students remanded for ‘raping’ classmate in Oyo

A family court sitting in Iyaganku has ordered the remand of four students of Eleyele Secondary School, Ibadan for allegedly raping a mentally challenged female student.

NAN reports that the defendants, who are minors, were charged with conspiracy and unlawful sexual intercourse by the state police command.

During the court session, Folake Ewe, the police prosecutor, told the court that the students allegedly conspired together to commit the offence.

The police inspector said the minors defiled the 16-year-old female student between January and March 15.

Ewe said the offence contravened the provisions of section 516 of the criminal code and section 34 of the Oyo state Child Rights Law 2006.

It is understood that the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But Sumbo Adetuyibi, the chief magistrate, did not take their plea due to lack of jurisdiction.

Adetuyibi ordered that they should be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility if the juvenile correctional facility at Ijokodo, Ibadan does not accept them.

She adjourned the matter until May 11 for mention.

There have been growing concerns over cases of sexual abuse among students in recent times.

Recent data by the Child Protection Network of Lagos state ministry of youths and social development revealed over 2,514 cases of child abuse were recorded in 2020 and 520 cases in 2021.