The governor of Ogun, Dapo Abiodun, has promised justice for the rape victims of a secondary school teacher in the state identified as Olaniran Lateef Adewale.

A Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on New Media to Abiodun, Emmanuel Ojo, had reported the incident on X (formerly Twitter) while confirming the arrest of the said teacher.

“We have been able to apprehend a notorious rapist in Abeokuta. A Secondary School teacher at that. Quite sad. Quite unfortunate!,” Ojo wrote.

He added that the arrest was made possible thanks to the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ogun State, Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye.

“On Saturday, a member of our team got a call from a young lady reporting that she has been raped by a man,” Ojo stated.

“We swung into action and located her, took her to the laboratory to run several tests before taking her to the police station to make a report.

“We thereafter went with the police to the accused home but after several knocks, he refused to open the gate.

“We were able to locate the brother to the house owner who assisted us in gaining access to the compound.

“We heard a girl’s cry for help when we got into the compound and with the support of the police, we caught Mr. Olaniran Lateef Adewale a secondary school mathematics teacher at Ebenezer Grammar school Iberekodo, Abeokuta and a native of Ipokia Local Government of Ogun State with OGNO.30650 of Ogun State Teaching Service commission.”

Ojo stated that the girl with him also accused him of forcibly having sexual intercourse with her and threatening to kill her if she does not ask her family to send him money.

He confirmed that Olaniran has been remanded at the Ogun State Command Headquarters pending more investigation by the police.

Governor Abiodun reacting in a statement on Wednesday said he wants to assure the public that the Ogun state government and law enforcement agencies are committed to tackling this issue head-on and ensuring justice prevails.

“Our collective voice must resound in unison, condemning these acts and demanding justice for the victims. Rape is a criminal offence that leaves lasting scars on its survivors—physically, emotionally, and mentally,” Abiodun said.

“No individual should experience such trauma or live in constant fear of becoming a victim. It is our responsibility to reaffirm the values of respect, empathy, and compassion towards one another.

“Our law enforcement agencies have intensified their efforts to investigate instances of sexual assault and apprehend the culprits.

“Additionally, support and counselling services have been bolstered to provide guidance and assistance to survivors during their journey towards healing and recovery.”

Abiodun said that, however, as concerned citizens, Nigerians cannot stand idly by and they must actively promote awareness and educate society about consent, personal boundaries, and the devastating consequences of sexual assault.

Furthermore, the governor has strongly urged everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or incidents related to rape promptly.
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