Residents of Oke Ota community in the Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Thursdayneighborsblocked the Ibeshe Road to protest against the rape and killing of a Ghanaian resident, Grace Obinna, by a man identified simply as Badoo.
PUNCH Metro learned that apart from 27-year-old Obinna, Badoo had raped two other women in the area, cutting them with knives afterwards. Our correspondent learnt that Badoo, who sneaked into women’s apartments only at night, had also struck in Ilemeren, Abule, Oluwoye, Ibeshe Titun, and other communities around Oke Ota.
It was gathered that the attack on Obinna, a mother of one, which occurred around 1am on Sunday, was Badoo’s latest, which had forced other women to relocate to houses outside the community.
PUNCH Metro gathered that on Sunday, Badoo broke the window into Obinna’s apartment and went into the room of the victim while her husband was away. The assailant was said to have raped Obinna and hit her head with weapons. It was learnt that when neighbours and local vigilance group members, who heard the victim’s cries, got to the room, the man had fled, while Obinna and her baby were in a pool of blood.
Our correspondent gathered that the Ghanaian was rushed to two hospitals, but was rejected.
She was confirmed dead at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. Our correspondent learnt that the matter was reported at the Ipakodo Police Division and the residents added that the suspect had threatened to wreak more havoc in the community.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the panic prompted the Thursday’s protest, as residents blocked the Ibeshe Road and demanded that security agencies mobilize to the area to arrest the suspect. When our correspondent arrived at the scene, the residents, including about 200 women, were seen holding leaves and singing solidarity songs.
The Chairman of the landlords’ association, Pastor Abayomi Adelakun, told PUNCH Metro that the man attempted to rape an 86-year-old woman in the community a week before the Ghanaian fell victim.
He said, “Two weeks ago, he came to Oke Ota and attacked an 86-year-old grandma. He attempted to rape her, but when she resisted, he injured her in the nose. The woman was rushed to a hospital. She survived the attack.
“On Sunday, around 1am, I was called by a security man that Badoo had raped and brutalized Grace (Obinna), who was a teacher with a nine-month-old baby. When we got to the scene, I could not recognize the lady again. All her teeth had been removed; she was in a pool of blood. She was rejected at two hospitals but confirmed dead at LASUTH.
“Badoo forces himself into women’s rooms, rapes and brutalizes them if they resist. He was doing that in neighboring communities and has now come to Oke Ota.”
A resident, who gave her name only as Adenike, said Badoo usually sneaked into women’s apartments naked.
She said, “We do not know the power this man is using. He does not steal; he only sneaks into women’s rooms and rapes them. After the act, he uses a handkerchief to rub the victim’s private parts. Women, who have seen him at night, said he also rubbed oil on his body and walked naked so that no one could easily hold him. All of us can no longer sleep in our houses.”
The Baale of Oke Ota community, Chief Awoyemi Tijani, told PUNCH Metro that his wife also could not sleep at home because of the attacks. He said, “Nobody has seen him in the daytime. I don’t know what he looks like. We call on the government to guarantee our security and safety. Since the day we heard about this, my wife no longer sleeps at home. I am wondering if Badoo is a spirit.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the command had commenced the investigation into the incident.
She said, “The command learnt about the protest, although the incident of rape and murder was never reported at the division. All necessary mercenaries have been set in motion to arrest the culprit and to forestall a recurrence.”
