A 22-year-old schoolteacher at the Blessed Peace School in Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, identified only as Prosper, has been arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly sodomising a 10-year-old boy at the school.
A PUNCH Metro correspondent learnt on Sunday that before performing the crime, the suspect allegedly told the pupil to behave like a girl and take off his trousers after luring him to a solitary spot in the school.
Our correspondent’s investigation also revealed that the suspect had enticed the survivor to the location on October 18, 2024, by claiming he intended to take him to a spelling bee and art competition where the survivor would earn millions of naira and possibly even travel abroad.
An eyewitness privy to the incident narrated, “The teacher raped the boy at the school, convincing him by saying he would be enrolled in an art competition where they would win a substantial amount of money.
“He took the boy to a class and ordered him to act like a girl. He then told him to pull his trousers down and close his eyes. He penetrated this boy and told him he should not tell anyone, assuring him that he would win the competition.”
A source familiar with the suspect’s arrest revealed to our correspondent that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, while attempting to commit a similar act with another pupil at the school.
“An 11-year-old boy, who is more outspoken, informed his parents that he no longer wanted to attend the school. When his parents pressed for a reason, he revealed that a teacher had been threatening him, warning that something bad would happen if he didn’t comply with the teacher’s demands.
“This led the parents, school management, and other teachers to question other pupils, though they initially found no leads. However, a teacher recalled that the suspect often showed particular interest in one boy, frequently buying him gifts and giving him preferential treatment.
“It was at this point that the survivor confessed that the suspect had lured him with promises of a spelling bee and art competition, claiming he would win N2m and be taken abroad. The school was unaware of any such competitions mentioned by the suspect,” the eyewitness said.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was initially taken into custody by the police at the Idimu Division before being transferred to the Police Gender Unit for subsequent prosecution.
(PUNCH)