Badoo Attacks Widow, Children In Lagos

Again, a suspected serial rapist, popularly called Badoo, yesterday attacked a 52-year-old widow and her two children in their sleep at Ibese community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The victims, identified as Mrs. Toyin Ogunleye, Funmilayo Ogunleye (26) and Oluwasegun Ogunleye (19), are still battling to stay alive at the hospital. It was learnt that the victims were sleeping when the suspected rapist cum killer invaded their house about 2a.m. and attacked them with dangerous weapons. Some of the victim’s neighbours said they were not aware when the attack was going on.

But the victims later raised the alarm which attracted people’s attention. The neighbours immediately rushed the victims to the Ikorodu General Hospital. One of the residents, who craved anonymity, said they were surprised the way Badoo carried out its operation. He said: “We do not know how they were able to enter into the victims’ house and attacked them without some neighbours noticing or hearing their cry.”

Another resident, Mr. Sheriff Owolabi, who spoke on the phone, said Badoo had abducted girls from their homes and on the streets. He said: “Some of these girls were raped and maimed by the criminal. We have suffered a lot in the hands of this suspected criminal element. The worst of it was the attack on a school teacher, Mrs. Grace Ebina-Jubreel, who was killed by the suspect in June.

Another, victim, Master Okiki Shoyibo, a primary five pupil, was also murdered. There are other several cases. “What baffles us is that we don’t know if the suspected Badoo is a spirit or a demon, because we have been battling with the case in the community for a long time and police have not been able to arrest the situation.” Another resident said the community had lost a teacher and a pupil.

The man said the activities of the attackers had made Ibese become a shadow of its old self. According to him, something urgently must be done to save the community from going into extinction because many of the residents have relocated to other parts of Lagos. He said: “I can tell you categorically that about 10 landlords who have abandoned their homes out of fear of ‘Badoo’. Some have even offered to sell their property.

When it appears there is no end in sight to the menace. We are worried and we are sad. Mothers, daughters, school children, even old women are all under the threat of the rapist. It is a sad development.” A woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the residents were tired of the incessant attacks. She said: “With unending attacks on the defenceless women and children by the serial rapists who have been having a field day for nearly a year now, respite has refused to come our way in Ibese.

Now I believe we have to defend ourselves.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, said the Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, visited the scene of the crime yesterday. She said: “After the commissioner of police received the report that a woman and two children were attacked, he dashed to the place. Thank God, no death was recorded.

“The commissioner has directed the divisional police officer in the area to fish out the culprit(s) and apply the concept of the community policing to end the criminality. “Some stakeholders in the community have expressed their readiness to partner with the police to end the menace of the suspect.”