Suspect in police net for raping two TASUED students

A suspected serial rapist, Olarewaju Idris, notorious for targeting female students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, told our correspondent on Monday that the suspect was tracked down to a popular hotel in Erinwo, Ijebu-Ode, where he was immediately taken into custody on Saturday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the 31-year-old suspect had allegedly raped an 18-year-old female student from the Library and Information Department after meeting her at a lounge in Ijebu Ode.

The police stated that the suspect allegedly abducted the teenager at knifepoint, led her to a secluded area, and brutally assaulted her after approaching her at the nightclub.

Odutola narrated, “At approximately 6:00 am, an 18-year-old survivor arrived at the police station, visibly shaken. She recounted how, around 1:00 am, the suspect approached her at the club and, under the threat of a knife, forcibly dragged her away to a nearby street, where he raped her before fleeing into the darkness.”

The command further revealed that the suspect had committed a similar crime against another TASUED student at a hotel, where he was eventually apprehended by police operatives.

Odutola added, “In a twist, another TASUED student, also a 300-level student, arrived at the station shortly after, reporting a similar horrifying encounter.

“According to her account, between 2:00 AM and 3:30 AM, the same suspect lured her onto a motorcycle and took her to Magun Hotel in Ijebu Ode, where he raped her, leaving severe bruises.”

The command noted that the suspect had since been taken into lawful custody, while the victims were rushed to Ijebu Ode State Hospital for urgent medical attention.

As investigations continued, Odutola assured the public that the police were committed to ensuring justice was served.

A PUNCH Metro report from October 2024 detailed the arrest of another serial rapist, Shedrack Olayemi, who had been on the police’s wanted list for armed robbery and the alleged rape of several female students of the university.

The suspect was apprehended following an intelligence report indicating that the 33-year-old alleged rapist had been spotted in the university area in Ijagun, where he had been hiding to evade arrest.

Responding to the rising cases of sexual attacks on female students, TASUED’s spokesperson, Mrs Ayotunde Odubela, stated that efforts were underway to strengthen security within the student residential areas.

“We have implemented some security measures on campus, but the challenge remains that most of our students reside off-campus,” said Mrs. Odubela.

“After the last incident, Governor Dapo Abiodun, through his deputy, visited the university and promised to enhance security in the host community.

“Subsequently, a police post was built. And as we speak, it is fully operational. Other security personnel apart from the police have been on regular patrol in most of the host communities since then,” she added in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro on Monday.