Police operatives in Ondo State have launched a manhunt for a commercial motorcyclist for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.

The suspect, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, was said to have committed the crime in Igbokoda community, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

According to sources, the suspect enticed the little girl who was selling puff-puff before luring her into an abandoned building, where he forcibly defiled the primary five students.

One of the sources claimed that the suspect, a native of Kebbi State, went into hiding before leaving the state, adding that detectives had tracked him to Kebbi State.

The victim’s mother, who spoke about the development and went by the name Joy, said that the incident took place on May 19, 2023.

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“At around a few minutes before 7 p.m., she came back home, but immediately I saw her. I knew something was wrong because she looked tired and exhausted. While she was trying to explain to me what happened to her when she fainted but was revived at the hospital.”

Olufumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the state police spokeswoman, confirmed the occurrence and said the command has begun tracking the suspect.

Suspected cultists have reportedly shot dead four persons in Rundele community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

DAILY POST gathered that the suspected cultists invaded the community with a tricycle popularly called Keke Napep and an eighteen-seater commercial bus, whisking away some men alive on Monday night.

The deceased were all members of local vigilante groups.

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According to a source in the community, two of them were beheaded and their private parts chopped off.

The source disclosed that the suspected cultists, who invaded the community were some indigenes who were chased out for being members of cult groups terrorizing the community at the time.

The source also said that when the criminals, who were fully armed, arrived in the community, they declared that they were returning to the community to reclaim their territory.

In the meantime, the Rivers State Police Command has attributed the killings to a clash between suspected cult groups in the area.

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The spokesperson for the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed that four people died in the attack.

Iringe-Koko in a statement, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp, has ordered tactical units to be deployed to the area with a view to arresting the perpetrators while investigation is ongoing.

A Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has sentenced two middle-aged men to three years imprisonment for stealing school properties worth N155,000.

The defendants, Emmanuel Akinde, 22, and Abdulateef Magaji, 30, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The offence committed by the duo was said to have contravened sections 516, 413(1), and 356(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

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According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Benard Olagbayi, the crime was perpetrated at Rheo Kiddies School, Sabo Market Area, Ondo.

Olagbayi stated: “On May 21, 2023, at around 11:30 am in the Sabo market area of Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District, Abdulateef Magaji and Emmanuel Akinde conspired to commit the felony of entering and stealing.

“On May 22, 2023, at approximately 3 am in Adekugbe Street in Sabo, Ondo, in the same Magisterial district, Abdulateef Magaji and Emmanuel Akinde unlawfully jumped the fence of Rheo Kiddies School and committed a felony on the school premises.

“On the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned Magisterial district, they unlawfully entered the Rheo Kiddies school’s store and stole several items, including a wheelbarrow worth N20,000, an electrocardiogram machine (egg machine) worth N80,000, a head pan valued at N5,000, corner iron worth N20,000, four window nets with frames worth N20,000, as well as some quantities of electrical and mesh wire valued at N1,000.”

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While pleading guilty to the charge preferred against them, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convicts according to their plea.

Chief Magistrate Charity Adeyanju subsequently convicted the defendants and thereafter sentenced them to three years imprisonment.

Magistrate Adeyanju, however, gave the defendants the option of fine of N200,000 each.