A traditional ruler in Laagba village, Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the arrest on Thursday, identifying the suspect as Chief Ifedayo, known locally as the Baale.

The girl’s father, Mr. Ajayi Fulani, a security guard based in Ondo town, spoke to journalists about the incident. He alleged that the Baale abducted his daughter and held her in his house for two weeks.

“The Baale kidnapped my daughter and kept her in his house in the community where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her,” he said.

Mr. Fulani explained that he noticed his daughter’s absence on May 25, 2025.

“I’m not always at home because of the nature of my job as a security guard,” he said. “For almost a month, I searched everywhere. Eventually, her sister received a call from her saying she was in Akure. She began looking for her and found her beside the Cathedral church in Akure where she had been dropped off.”

He said the matter was reported to the police Area Command in Akure, and his daughter was subsequently taken to the General Hospital in Ondo before being referred to the Mother and Child Hospital at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.

She was said to have been hospitalized and treated for six days.

According to Mr. Fulani, the Baale reached out to him, suggesting a discreet settlement.

He said the Baale appealed to him to remain calm, assuring that the matter would be resolved. Fulani further said that he even promised to cover the full cost of medical treatment, “but I declined and insisted on pursuing justice.”

He called on the Ondo State Government and the Commissioner of Police to thoroughly investigate the issue.

“All our family seeks is justice,” he added.

Police spokesperson, Mr. Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the case had been escalated to the state police headquarters.

He added that the investigation is now under the jurisdiction of the headquarters, and efforts are underway to ensure justice is done.