17-year-old suspect arrested for allegedly defiling Oyo minor

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka. Photo: Oyo State Police Command.

The Oyo State Police command, on Thursday, said it had arrested a 17-year-old male, Usman Dauda, for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl in Saki.

A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, explained that the operational breakthrough followed a distress report lodged at the Saki Divisional Station on September 17, 2026, around 6 pm, after the child went missing.

Ayanlade explained that a localised search subsequently led to her recovery along the roadside in a state of distress, where preliminary enquiries revealed that the suspect had forcefully taken her into his apartment to commit the heinous act.

He stressed that detectives immediately visited and secured the scene of the crime, resulting in the immediate arrest of the suspect and the recovery of critical physical evidence linked to the offence.

The statement read, “In its bid to rid the state of gender-based violence and offences targeted at women and vulnerable persons, operatives of the Oyo Police Command have arrested a 17-year-old male, one Usman Dauda, for allegedly defiling a 3-year-old girl in Saki.

“This operational breakthrough followed a distress report lodged at the Saki Divisional Station on September 17, 2026, at about 1800hrs, after the child went missing while being retrieved from school earlier that afternoon.

“A localised search subsequently led to her recovery along the roadside in a state of distress, where preliminary inquiries revealed that the suspect had forcefully taken her into his apartment to commit the heinous act.

“Prompted by this revelation, detectives swiftly visited and secured the scene of the crime, resulting in the immediate arrest of the suspect and the recovery of critical physical evidence linked to the offence.

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“While investigations were immediately activated, the young survivor was promptly rushed to a medical facility in Saki, where she is currently receiving comprehensive clinical treatment and psychotherapeutic care,” the PPRO stressed.

The command reiterated its unwavering zero-tolerance policy against child abuse and sexual violence.

“Furthermore, in strict compliance with the Child Rights Act and established ethical protection guidelines, the privacy, dignity, and identity of the survivor and her family will remain fully protected throughout this process.

“To ensure justice is thoroughly served, the case has been transferred to the Gender Desk, State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, for exhaustive investigation and prosecution,” the statement added.

The command then assured the people of the state of its commitment to safety and urged them to remain vigilant by promptly reporting any acts of violence against children or vulnerable persons to the nearest police facility.