Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 62-year-old man, Mathew Imeje, over the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in the Ehin-Ala area of Akure, the state capital.

The suspect was said to have lured the minor to a secluded area after she visited his shop to charge her mother’s phone.

Confirming the incident yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Jimoh Abayomi, said the case was reported to the police by the victim’s mother after she raised the alarm over the incident.

Abayomi said the matter is being handled by the Gender-Based Offences Unit of the command, adding that the victim is currently receiving medical attention at a health facility while the suspect remains in police custody.

According to him, investigations are ongoing to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted.

“On March 3, 2026, one Adebayo Sefunmi of Oluwatuyi, Akure, reported that on February 28, 2026, at about 7:00 p.m., at Ehin-Ala, where her children reside, one Imeje Mathew, 62 years, allegedly assaulted her 12-year-old daughter.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly lured the minor to a nearby bush under the pretence of assisting her after she visited his shop to charge her mother’s phone,” he said.

The police spokesperson reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of women and children and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence face the full weight of the law.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible information to the police to aid swift intervention in such cases.