Residents of Ogunfunmi Street, Akobi Crescent in the Surulere area of
Lagos on Tuesday, dragged a school teacher, Benedict Ekpenyong, to a police
station for allegedly locking up a female pupil in his room and attempting to
rape her.
Lagos on Tuesday, dragged a school teacher, Benedict Ekpenyong, to a police
station for allegedly locking up a female pupil in his room and attempting to
rape her.
Punch Metro learnt that the 14-year-old pupil, identified only as
Blessing, had been lured by Ekpenyong to his apartment at about 12pm, after
which he bolted the door to the suspicion of his neighbours.
Blessing, had been lured by Ekpenyong to his apartment at about 12pm, after
which he bolted the door to the suspicion of his neighbours.
It was learnt that Ekpenyong, who was a teacher in Akintan Grammar School
on Akintan Street, Surulere, and Blessing, also a pupil of the school, were in
the room for a few minutes before a mob surrounded the house and tried to force
the teacher’s door open.
on Akintan Street, Surulere, and Blessing, also a pupil of the school, were in
the room for a few minutes before a mob surrounded the house and tried to force
the teacher’s door open.
Punch correspondent gathered that when the door was forced open, the mob
observed that Ekpenyong had allegedly attempted to have sex with the pupil, and
they began to beat him.
observed that Ekpenyong had allegedly attempted to have sex with the pupil, and
they began to beat him.
The teacher was reportedly beaten by the mob before he and the pupil were
dragged to the Alakara Police Division at about 1pm.
dragged to the Alakara Police Division at about 1pm.
Speaking with Punch Metro, a resident of the street, who declined to give
his name, said the police had visited the teacher’s house to collect exhibits,
adding that the neighbours became angry because Ekpenyong allegedly had a habit
of bringing schoolgirls and locking them up in his room during school hours.
his name, said the police had visited the teacher’s house to collect exhibits,
adding that the neighbours became angry because Ekpenyong allegedly had a habit
of bringing schoolgirls and locking them up in his room during school hours.
He said, “I do not stay on Ogunfunmi Street but I knew when the mob went
to the house. For several minutes, people gathered in front of the teacher’s
room and asked him to open the door but he refused. Then, they forced it open.
to the house. For several minutes, people gathered in front of the teacher’s
room and asked him to open the door but he refused. Then, they forced it open.
“When they did, they found evidence that Ekpenyong might have attempted
to rape the girl as the pupil was not the first person that would be brought to
the teacher’s room. So, they began to beat him up. It was a major scene on the
street.”
to rape the girl as the pupil was not the first person that would be brought to
the teacher’s room. So, they began to beat him up. It was a major scene on the
street.”
Punch correspondent learnt that Ekpenyong had been arrested by the police
and detained since Tuesday, while the girl was taken away by the Domestic and
Sexual Violence Response Team of the Lagos State Government for medical
examination and rehabilitation.
and detained since Tuesday, while the girl was taken away by the Domestic and
Sexual Violence Response Team of the Lagos State Government for medical
examination and rehabilitation.
One of the social workers, identified only as Idowu, said, “The
information we have is that the suspect is notorious in the area for bringing
little girls to his house and doing suspicious things with them. He locks them
up in his room so nobody gets to hear anything.
information we have is that the suspect is notorious in the area for bringing
little girls to his house and doing suspicious things with them. He locks them
up in his room so nobody gets to hear anything.
“On Tuesday, the neighbours were watching him and they sent an alert to
the government. By the time we got there, he had stepped out with the girl. The
people actually beat him up and dragged both of them to the police station. The
girl has been taken and we are making arrangements to move her from the
station.”
the government. By the time we got there, he had stepped out with the girl. The
people actually beat him up and dragged both of them to the police station. The
girl has been taken and we are making arrangements to move her from the
station.”
The Coordinator, DSVRT, Lola Viviour-Adeniyi, said the team would write
to the Ministry of Education to investigate the school as it had been reported
that cases of sexual abuses were rampant in the school.
to the Ministry of Education to investigate the school as it had been reported
that cases of sexual abuses were rampant in the school.
She said, “It was a mandated reporter that brought the matter to our
attention. So, we informed a social worker from the Child Protection Unit of
the Ministry of Youths, to go to the police station and provide protection for
the girl.
attention. So, we informed a social worker from the Child Protection Unit of
the Ministry of Youths, to go to the police station and provide protection for
the girl.
“As we speak, the girl is under protection. We want the police to ensure
that the suspect is charged to court as the government is interested in the
matter. Also, we will write to the Ministry of Education to investigate the
school as we learnt that this was not the first time cases of sexual abuse
would come up.”
that the suspect is charged to court as the government is interested in the
matter. Also, we will write to the Ministry of Education to investigate the
school as we learnt that this was not the first time cases of sexual abuse
would come up.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed
the teacher’s arrest. He added that the police had visited the scene of the
crime and would charge the suspect to court after investigation was concluded.
the teacher’s arrest. He added that the police had visited the scene of the
crime and would charge the suspect to court after investigation was concluded.
He said, “A case of attempted rape was reported by one of the neighbours.
The suspect is a part-time teacher with Akintan Grammar School, Surulere, and
he was arrested while he was about to rape his victim. The suspect will be charged
to court after investigation is concluded.”
The suspect is a part-time teacher with Akintan Grammar School, Surulere, and
he was arrested while he was about to rape his victim. The suspect will be charged
to court after investigation is concluded.”
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