The Ondo State Police Command on Tuesday said it had launched a manhunt for a middle-aged man who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl, in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, whose identity was yet to be revealed, allegedly raped the victim who was hawking puff-puff. The suspect allegedly lured the victim into an uncompleted building in the town where he allegedly perpetrated the dastardly.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was said to have hailed from Kebbi State, went into hiding and later travelled out of Ondo State.

Seeking justice, the mother of the victim, who identified herself simply as Joy, explained that the incident happened on May 19, 2023.

She called on the security agencies to assist her family in apprehending the fleeing suspect and brought him to book.

She said, “When my daughter arrived from school on this fateful day, she told me to allow her hawk puff-puff because we needed some money for her school fees. She later left home to hawk again. When it was getting late, I became apprehensive when I didn’t see her.

“At around a few minutes before 7 pm, she came back home but immediately I saw her. I knew something was wrong because she looked tired and exhausted. While she was trying to explain to me what happened to her when she fainted but was revived at the hospital.

“She was taken to the theatre for surgery and she had tears (in her private part). It was after she woke up that she narrated how a Hausa man raped her. She explained how the man forcefully raped her and we set out to apprehend the man and hand him to the police, but we were surprised to learn that he had run away to Kebbi State.

She added that the case has been reported to the police, who said they have commenced a manhunt for the suspect.

“The police assured us that he will be made to face the wrath of the law. We have spent a lot of money at the hospital, and she was discharged a few days ago after we went through hell before paying for the hospital bills. There is no one to help and I have lost many things because of this incident.

“We reported the case to the police and they demanded she take us to where the incident happened, where the police recovered some items as evidence. We were later told the suspect had run while the police told us they are on the case and have sent people to Kebbi to arrest him.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmi Odunlami, said the command had launched a manhunt on the suspect over the crime and promised that justice would be served immediately after the suspect is brought back and investigations concluded.

“It is true, and we are looking for him (the suspect). He will be arrested and made to face the law very soon, our men have travelled to Kebbi to arrest the suspect.”