OTA, OGUN — What began as an encounter between a motorcyclist and a young woman reportedly found wandering around Olohunda, Ota, has resulted in the arrest of a 29-year-old man, Salaudeen Toheeb, over an alleged sexual assault.
The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, said the suspect was arrested after the 22-year-old woman, identified as Boluwatife, was reportedly found in his company on October 3, 2026.
The incident, according to the Corps, came to light after information reached the Divisional Officer of its Alagbon Division, SC Ibrahim Badru, at about 4pm that the young woman, who resides around Baba Oyinbo, Owode-Yewa, had been found with Toheeb.
The development reportedly triggered concern because the woman was said to have been sought by members of her family.
The State Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander (Dr.) Soji Ganzallo, disclosed the incident through the Director of Information and Public Relations, ACC Adegunwa Adegbuyi.
According to the Corps, after receiving the information, Badru informed his Area Commander, ACC Akeem Saka of the Owode-Yewa Area Command, who directed that both the man and the woman be brought in for questioning.
Officers subsequently moved to the location and arrested Toheeb.
‘She Told Me She Had Nowhere To Go’
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly offered an account of how he came into contact with the woman.
Toheeb said he had seen her wandering around the previous evening while riding his motorcycle. He claimed that he approached her and struck up a conversation with her.
According to the preliminary account attributed to the suspect, the woman told him that she was distressed and did not know where to go.
He reportedly took her to his residence and bought food for her.
However, the account took a disturbing turn when the suspect was alleged to have attempted to have sexual intercourse with the woman after she had eaten.
The woman reportedly refused his advances.
The suspect was subsequently alleged to have forced himself on her in the early hours of the following day.
The allegation remains subject to investigation, and the suspect has not been convicted of any offence.
Chance Encounter Leads To Family Discovery
The report stated that Toheeb and the woman later left the residence to charge his mobile phone.
It was during the outing that people who recognised the woman reportedly became suspicious and contacted her father, informing him of her whereabouts.
The information eventually led to the intervention of security personnel and the arrest of the suspect.
But beyond the alleged sexual assault, the woman's family reportedly raised additional questions concerning what happened during the period she was away from home.
Her father requested that the matter be transferred to the Owode-Yewa Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
He reportedly told the So-Safe Corps that his daughter had left home with five mobile phones and about ₦17,000 cash.
The father therefore asked investigators to establish what happened to the phones and money, as well as the circumstances surrounding his daughter's disappearance and subsequent discovery.
Case Transferred To Police
Following the request and in accordance with the need for further investigation, the case was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Owode-Yewa Divisional Headquarters.
The police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's disappearance, the allegation of sexual assault and the claims concerning the five mobile phones and cash.
For the So-Safe Corps, the incident also underscores the importance of early intervention whenever a person is reported missing or found in circumstances that could expose them to danger.
Commander Ganzallo reiterated the Corps' commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging members of the public to promptly report cases involving missing persons, suspected abuse, sexual offences and other criminal activities to security authorities.
As investigations continue, the 29-year-old suspect remains subject to due process, while the allegations against him are yet to be established by a competent court.
