Police in Osun State have arrested an Islamic cleric for allegedly having sex with a young girl in Ede, leading to angry protests by local residents who attacked the suspect before he was taken into custody.
The suspect, identified simply as Kadiri, was arrested on Saturday after the incident occurred at Babasanya-Araka area of Ede, where he runs both a mosque and an Arabic school.
Osun State Police Command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed, explaining that police officers were sent to the scene after receiving reports about the incident.
“The matter was reported, and we deployed operatives to the scene. When our men got to the scene, the Amotekun men who arrested him handed him over to us,” Ojelabi said.
The police spokesperson said the suspect is now in police custody while investigations continue.
“So, he is in our custody already. But we want the Division to investigate before the matter is transferred to SCID. That is all that is available for now,” Ojelabi explained.
Amotekun spokesperson Idowu Yusuf provided more details about the suspect’s background, revealing his position in the local religious community.
“The suspect is an Imam of a mosque. He also has an Arabic school in the area where he is teaching students Arabic. Further investigation is being done by the police,” Yusuf said.
The arrest came after local residents discovered what had happened to the young victim and took matters into their own hands before security forces arrived.
A resident of Babasanya-Araka, who asked not to be named, explained how the victim was found and what led to the suspect being caught.
According to the resident, the victim, who is about 8 years old, had gone missing for several hours on Saturday, causing her mother to search for her.
“The victim, about 8 years old, was missing for some hours on Saturday, and her mother was already looking for her,” the resident said.
When the child was eventually found, her condition immediately raised alarm among those who discovered her.
“When she was found, she was crying and bleeding. She was taken to the hospital in Ede, where she was checked,” the resident explained.
The discovery of the injured child prompted angry reactions from local residents, who confronted the suspect before security forces could intervene.
The incident led to a protest by an angry mob, who attacked the suspect after he was seized, showing the level of community outrage over the alleged crime.
The case has since been handed over to police for proper investigation, with the suspect currently in custody while authorities gather evidence and prepare charges.
The Osun State Police Command has indicated that the matter will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation once the initial inquiry is completed at the divisional level.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of children in religious and educational settings, particularly in areas where religious leaders have close access to minors through their teaching roles.
