Some angry Ibadan youths, under the aegis of Akinyele Youth Forum, on Monday, asked for justice against the rape and murder of some ladies in their community.
The aggrieved youths, who embarked on a peaceful rally in the city, said sinners must not go unpunished.
They expressed worries on the spate of rape and killings of some ladies in Ibadan, saying that the failure of the security agencies to track down those behind the crime signalled danger.
The youths, carrying a banner with the inscription, ‘Stop rape and murder in our society; an injustice to one is an injustice to all,’ demanded for the arrest and trial of killers of Barakat Bello; Azeezat Shomuyiwa; and Grace Oshiagwu.
Caleb Adedokun, president of the Forum, said the perpetrators of the crime must be brought to book, adding, “We demand for urgent action against sexual violence. Our teenage girls were raped to death by some unidentified rapist in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“Although sexual assault occurs worldwide, the spate of killing and rape of girls in the local government nowadays deserve a special and immediate attention of all stakeholders.
“It is disturbing that while we are still counting the loss of Barakat Bello, a student of College of Agriculture in lbadan who was killed in her home on June 1, the gruesome death of Miss Ezeugo James, a student of Oke Ogun Polytechnic also happened.
“What are the security operatives doing? What impact is our political representatives in Akinyele Local Government making and what is the result of the intervention by the religious leaders? We call on the local government administration, the police and other stakeholders to ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Senior Pastor to the father of the slain 21-year-old Grace Oshiagwu, (Pastor Kayode Isola), expressed pain over the lady’s murder.
According to him, the father of the deceased (Pastor Benson), is currently an emotional wreck as a result of the incident.
Pastor Isola said, “The father and I were together at the time it happened. The girl and her younger sister were at home. We learnt that at a point, the younger sister went out. When she got back, she discovered that the door had been locked. We met her dead.”
The President, Federation of Akinyele Students Union, Olawale Oladoja, and Olanrewaju Oloja, former Secretary General, National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West zone, said poor security was responsible for the high rate of crime in the area.
