Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl

Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl

A 19-year-old man identified as Bayo has been arrested over the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Oyo town, Oyo State, while a human rights organisation has called for an independent investigation amid allegations of possible interference in the case.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday in the Durbar area of Oyo town, when the child was sent by her mother to buy a recharge card. The suspect is said to be the son of a serving police officer in Ibadan.

The victim’s father, Afeez Tiamiyu, told Saturday PUNCH that he was at work when his wife called to inform him of the incident. He said he rushed home and, after speaking with his daughter, accompanied the family in identifying the alleged suspect.

According to Tiamiyu, the family took the child to the scene, where she reportedly identified the young man. Bayo was subsequently arrested and taken to the Police Area Command in Durbar, Oyo.

Tiamiyu alleged that the family became concerned after arriving at the police station and discovering that the suspect’s father was a serving police officer. He claimed that some officers on duty attempted to persuade the family to drop the complaint.

The father said the family refused to abandon the case and sought the assistance of human rights advocates. His allegations about the conduct of officers have not been independently established.

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A medical examination was reportedly conducted on the child at the State Hospital in Oyo. According to a medical report dated October 5, 2026, and signed by a doctor identified as Dr Adeniyi, the child sustained injuries to her vulva and labia minora, accompanied by severe pain. The report was described by Saturday PUNCH as indicating injuries consistent with sexual assault.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the incident had been reported and that an investigation was underway. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

The transfer places the case under the state-level investigative unit as the authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegation and determine the appropriate next steps.

Meanwhile, the Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, demanding an independent and transparent investigation.

In a petition dated October 6, 2026, and signed by its Director-General, Sulaimon Tadese, the organisation raised concerns about alleged attempts to resolve the matter privately because of the suspect’s reported family connection to a police officer.

The group argued that allegations of sexual abuse involving a five-year-old child should not be treated as a private family dispute. It called for the protection of the child and her family, the preservation of medical and forensic evidence, and the prosecution of the suspect if investigators establish sufficient evidence.

THURIST also urged the Police Service Commission to investigate any officer found to have attempted to suppress the complaint, intimidate the family or interfere with the investigation.

The allegations of police interference have not been independently verified, and no finding of misconduct against any officer has been established in the information publicly available. The authorities’ investigation will be critical in determining whether the complaint was handled appropriately.

The case has renewed concerns about child protection, access to justice and the need for allegations involving minors to be handled without intimidation or undue influence. The child’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy.

Bayo remains a suspect, and the allegation against him has not been determined by a court. The investigation is expected to establish the facts and whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution.

Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl