Two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, have been arrested by the police for allegedly conspiring to drug and rape a 20-year-old female undergraduate of the institution.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Olusola Ayanlade, announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital.
According to him, preliminary investigations showed that the victim was invited to the residence of her long-time friend, 19-year-old Queen Sodo, also a student of the Ondo varsity.
“Trusting in the longevity of their friendship, which began in secondary school and continued into university, the victim accepted a drink provided by her friend, which was later found to have been laced with drugs, causing her to lose consciousness,” the statement read.
Ayanlade said once the victim became incapacitated, Sodo allegedly stepped out of the room, summoned her male co-conspirator and kept watch while the act was being carried out.
He added that a neighbour became suspicious after hearing unusual and inconsistent noises coming from the room and immediately raised the alarm.
“The victim was subsequently rescued by a neighbour who noticed the strange noise,” he stated. “She was found naked, unconscious and in a compromising position with the arrested male suspect, and was immediately taken for urgent medical attention.”
Ayanlade said the victim was later referred to a specialist hospital for comprehensive treatment and was currently recuperating.
He further noted that the suspects had confessed to their involvement and roles in the crime. Exhibits recovered from the scene included the bottle of the drug-laced drink identified by both the suspects and the victim.
The police spokesman added that the suspects were being held in lawful custody and would be transferred to the Gender Desk Office in Akure for further discreet investigation and prosecution.
Ayanlade assured residents that the command remained committed to tracking down criminal elements in the state and ensuring they face the full weight of the law.
