The sad event of Wednesday, August 14, 2019, would remain an indelible blemish in the life of female students of Ondo State School of Health Technology, Akure. That was a day one of them (name withheld), was allegedly gang-raped by three fellow students of the school.
Though the alleged culprits are in police custody, the evil they perpetrated in the life of their fellow-student walks freely in her mind. Thus, it has become testing for the victim to forgive the alleged offenders or forget their actions.
Those in the custody of the Ondo State police command for the alleged rape are Adeboboye Damilola, Eyitayo Charles and Blessing Michael. Their trial has likewise commenced at a magistrate court in Akure.
The rape was said to have taken place at the residence of a friend of the victim, located at Barrister Lodge, Olofinlade Layout, Oda Road, Akure, when the victim paid a visit to her friend. Unfortunately, the said friend was not at home. The trio, who were allegedly armed, were alleged to have threatened to kill the victims if she resisted their forced sexual act.
The victim, while narrating her ordeal, called on the stakeholders to assist her to get justice. She said she also wanted the accused persons punished to serve as a deterrent to others who he said were fond of molesting female students.
Recounting her ordeal, the victim said, “I went to my friend’s house on that day, but he was not at home. As I was in his room waiting for him, suddenly, the three of them entered into the room. I was shocked to see them and they asked me to put off my dress and sleep on the bed.
“I begged them to please leave me alone but they refused. They asked one of them to forcefully undress me and before you know it the three of them raped me.
“They even threatened me that they had the recordings of the escapade, that they would upload the video on social media if I should tell anyone.
“I could not keep the matter to myself. So, I told one of my friends in confidence who reported the issue to the police and the boys were tracked and arrested.
“I know one of them (name withheld) very well because he had asked me out, but I declined. I have to speak out now because I cannot keep it to myself again and I really want justice. Those boys really took advantage of me and they abused me.”
On how she wanted justice to be done, the victim said she had taken her faith and surrendered everything to God and moved on in life.
“Already curses have been placed on them, even if they are sentenced to jail, it would not remove the wrath of God on them, there is nothing I can do but I have moved on with my life,” she stressed.
Our correspondent gathered that the effect of the incident is still permeating the campus. When our correspondent visited the campus on Tuesday, one of the female students vowed not to visit the male hostels alone, even if it was compulsory for them to see their male colleagues.
In view of this development, apart from the victim begging for justice, some members of the school community have furthermore called on the judiciary to quickly but rightly dispense justice in the case.
A lecturer, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, expressed bitterness on the incident. He urged the government to be more proactive on the issue of rape in the state.
He said, “We felt bad when we heard that such an incident happened to one of our students here but we thank God that the alleged perpetrators have been arrested and they are undergoing a trial.
“I am a father, I don’t know how the lady will be feeling now among his fellow students. Though her identity was not revealed because of stigmatisation, one way or the other, some students will recognise her. The government should find a solution to the problem of rape. It is becoming rampant in the state.”
One of the students, who identified herself as Toyin William, said the three alleged rapists were known on campus.
She said, “Though I don’t know the lady because her real identity was not revealed on campus, we heard about the incident. I know those boys. They should not be allowed to return to the campus again. We learnt that the boys have been taken to court, so we want to beg the judiciary to be thorough on this so that others will learn from it.”
Another student from the department of the Environmental Health Technician of the institution, Oyeniyi, who condemned the act, said there was a need for justice on the matter. He called on the state government to build hostels that would accommodate all the students of the institution.
According to him, “ If the girl (victim) and other students were living on the campus, it would be difficult for such an act to be perpetrated in the female hotels. The lady must have been going through a difficult situation psychologically now so the government should assist her to get justice.”
