Crime suspect in police handcuff
Ondo State Police Command has taken two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, into custody over an alleged conspiracy that led to the rape of a 20-year-old undergraduate.
Police spokesperson DSP Olushola Ayanlade disclosed the development in a statement on Monday, describing the case as a grim reminder of how “the command’s improved capacity to confront serious crimes” is yielding results.
According to Ayanlade, the incident began when the victim accepted an invitation from her long-time friend, Queen Sodo, a 19-year-old student of the same institution. Their friendship, he noted, stretched back to secondary school and continued into their university years — a familiarity the victim believed she could trust.
That trust, however, was allegedly exploited.
Ayanlade said the young woman took a drink offered to her by Sodo, only to later discover it had been drugged. The substance, he said, rendered her unconscious.
“After noticing the victim had become incapacitated, Queen Sodo reportedly left the room, invited her male accomplice, and kept watch while the crime occurred,” he stated.
The assault might have gone undetected but for a neighbour who reportedly heard strange sounds from the room. The neighbour intervened, found the victim unconscious with the male suspect, and immediately raised the alarm.
Police say the survivor was rushed for urgent medical attention and later transferred to a specialist hospital, where she is currently recovering.
Ayanlade revealed that both suspects have confessed and detailed the roles they each played.
Investigators also recovered key evidence, including the drug-laced drink, which has been identified by both the suspects and the victim.
The police spokesperson noted that the suspects remain in lawful custody and will be handed over to the Gender Desk Office for further investigation and eventual prosecution.
“The command assures the public that offenders will face the full weight of the law, regardless of familiarity with their victims,” he added.
He urged parents and guardians to continue educating their children about personal safety and the risks that can arise “even in long friendships that may be exploited for criminal acts.”
