Army dismisses officer for rape of 300-Level student, hands him over to police

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the soldier involved in the alleged rape of a female student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has been handed over to the Ondo State Police Command for prosecution.

It was also disclosed that the officer, identified as Lance Corporal Adelola, has been dismissed.

The victim, a 300-level student of the Department of Religious and African Studies of the university, was allegedly gang-raped on July 31 by soldiers attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the army, inside a shed at the checkpoint, while the student was returning from the school.

Although earlier reports had said the student was gang-raped, the Army however said its investigation revealed that only one of the soldiers committed the offence.

READ ALSO: Ondo govt denies claims it increased fees of its tertiary institutions

The Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade Akure, Brig. Gen. Zakari Abubakar, had earlier promised to transfer the case to the police after the accused soldier must have been sacked and the investigation concluded.

A source in the barracks confirmed to the Punch that he (Lance Corporal Adelola) had been tried and had been sacked before the suspect was handed over to the police.

The source said, “He has been sacked from service and he has been transferred to the police for prosecution. The army does not tolerate indiscipline. ”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the development and said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

“I can confirm to you that the (former) soldier has been handed over to us, we will soon charge him to court,” Joseph stated.

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