In Osun State, police have arrested a commercial motorcyclist named Jacob Damilare, who is accused of robbing and raping a female passenger on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife. The incident took place on July 26, 2024.
According to the police, the victim, a student from OAU, hired Damilare for a ride from the university campus to Moro. The ride began around 7:05 PM, but when they reached RCC Junction along the Ilesa/Ibadan Expressway, Damilare reportedly veered off the main road into a nearby bush.
Once there, Damilare allegedly stole several items from the victim, including an iPhone XS Max worth N320,000, a Samsung Galaxy A71 worth N150,000, an Airtel Wi-Fi device valued at N10,000, and N20,000 in cash. He then sexually assaulted her and shaved her pubic hair.
In an interview with PUNCH Metro, Damilare admitted to the crime. He explained that he made romantic advances toward the victim, which she rejected rudely.
Damilare said, “I asked her out, but she spoke rudely to me. It was because of the way she spoke to me that I diverted into the bush. I gave her two options: either to allow me to have sex with her or to give me money. She agreed that I should have sex with her.”
After the assault, Damilare reportedly threatened to kill the victim if she reported the attack. The police have since taken the victim to the Police Hospital in Osogbo for medical treatment and assessment. Damilare was arrested and has confessed to the crime. He is expected to face charges in court once the investigation is complete.
Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, detailed the incident during a press conference on Wednesday.
Opalola said, “On 26th July 2024, at about 7:05 pm, the complainant engaged the services of a commercial motorcyclist (the suspect), later identified as Damilare Jacob ‘m’, from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Campus, Ile-Ife, to Moro town.
“Upon reaching RCC Junction along the Ilesa/Ibadan Expressway, Ile-Ife, the suspect diverted into a nearby bush, where he robbed her of the following items: an iPhone XS Max valued at three hundred and twenty thousand naira (N320,000.00), a Samsung Galaxy A71 valued at one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150,000.00), an Airtel Wi-Fi device valued at ten thousand naira (N10,000.00), and the cash sum of twenty thousand naira (N20,000.00). He then forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
“The suspect also cut her pubic hair, armpit hair, and head hair, and threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to anyone. The victim was taken to the Police Hospital, Osogbo, for assessment and treatment. The suspect was later arrested and confessed to perpetrating this heinous act. The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation,” Opalola said.