There is an outpouring of anger in Ekiti State as three girls, who participated in the ongoing EndSARS protests were on Sunday night allegedly gang-raped by co-protesters.
The incident, according to a source, happened at the Fajuyi Park area of Ado Ekiti metropolis around 8.30pm on Sunday.
The news came to fore, as the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, ordered the closure of all private and public schools operating in the state for the safety of all children.
The protests had been successful in Ekiti with protesters gathering at strategic areas on a daily basis, especially the Fajuyi Park till around 8:00pm due to its proximity to the government house.
On Tuesday, many important roads in the state capital were barricaded with bonfires billowing thick smoke made on them to hamper free movements of vehicles and humans.
The Spokesman of the Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the burning of the trucks and the rape of the girls, warned that hoodlums are gradually hijacking the protests, which he said portrayed danger to the country.
“Every Nigerian or group has the legitimate right to protest but the moment you start destroying property, then it becomes another thing.
“We appeal to the youths to refrain from wanton destruction of lives and property under the guise of protest”.
Reacting to the rape issue, the Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, frowned at the rape of the victims,
According to him, “Rape and robbery cannot be the values of EndSARS protesters.”
“It is becoming obvious that the Government cannot continue to allow the good people of Ekiti State, suffer in this manner.” Fapohunda, however, advised the women to immediately take the assaulted girls to the Ekiti State Sexual Assault Referral Centre- the Moremi Clinic located in the Ekiti State teaching hospital for a medical check-up.
“It may now be necessary to alert all those participating in the protests, specifically girls and women to note that there exist hoodlums in their midst whose agenda is to rape and rob.
To prevent exposing students to danger of attack by the rampaging protesters, the State Government has ordered the closure of all private and public schools in the State for the rest of the week.
Fayemi had through the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Kofoworola Olabimpe Aderiye, given the order for the closure of schools in a statement by the Information Officer in the Ministry, Abimbola Dada, on Tuesday.
Fayemi said: “It is a proactive step to safeguard the lives of our pupils, students, teachers and other staff members who are finding it difficult to get to their respective schools.
“School activities will continue on Monday 26th October 2020”.
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