Osun State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a Beninois farmer, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, who allegedly assaulted a 70-year-old community leader simply identified as Mrs Adunni in Iwoye Ijesa town of the state.
The victim, who claimed to be a chieftaincy title holder in Iwoye, during an interview, said the incident happened on Tuesday when she was returning from her farm.
Adunni, who said on her way home, she observed that the suspect was running behind her added that she also ran but fell along the way. The farmer used that opportunity to attempt to rape her, which she resisted.
She said, “I had no money on me, and I decided to go to the farm to harvest plantain. While on my way, a young man from Cotonou, Benin Republic working as a labourer on a farm for someone in our community waylaid me and assaulted me.
“I observed someone was running behind me but I never thought he was running to catch up with me. I also ran a bit, but I fell along the way. It was when I fell that he tried to force himself on me. I resisted him. We struggled for some minutes. He bit me on several parts of my body.
“I am presently at a hospital receiving treatment. I want justice. I am a 70-year-old widow. He attempted to rape me. Police have arrested him.”
When contacted, Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, on Wednesday, confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
“He has been arrested. He is being detained. He will be transferred to the headquarters soonest for further investigation into the matter,” Opalola said.
