The Police Command in Ondo State has arrested a 27-year-old man, identified as Solomon Onaola, over the alleged defilement of a 15-year-old domestic worker in Omifon, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspect was arrested following a complaint lodged by the girl’s guardian at the Odigbo Divisional Police Station on August 2.
“According to the report, the girl allegedly disclosed that the suspect had been taking her to his late mother’s residence in Omifon, where he allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse with her,” Jimoh said.
Jimoh said the girl was working as a domestic worker in the household of her guardian and had allegedly left the home without permission on several occasions, noting that the guardian reportedly questioned the girl about where she went whenever she left the house.
“The victim allegedly disclosed that the suspect had been taking her to his late mother’s residence in Omifon, where he allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse with her. Following the report, police operatives commenced investigation and subsequently arrested the suspect.
He said police operatives commenced an investigation following the complaint and subsequently arrested the suspect,noting that the girl has been placed under appropriate care while necessary procedures were being followed in handling the alleged sexual offence involving a minor.
“The victim has also been placed under appropriate care and necessary steps are being taken in accordance with established procedures for cases involving alleged sexual offences against minors,” he said.
Jimoh added that the case was subsequently transferred to the command’s Gender Based Offences Unit for discreet investigation because of the sensitive nature of the allegation, noting that the Commissioner of Police in Ondo, CP Felix Ohagwu, had directed the Gender Based Offences Unit to conduct a thorough and professional investigation to establish the facts of the case and ensure that justice was served.
He added that the suspect remains in police custody and will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation, while urging parents, guardians and members of the public to remain vigilant and pay close attention to the welfare of children under their care.
Police Spokesperson also called for prompt reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and sexual exploitation.
The allegation comes against the backdrop of legal protections for children in Ondo State.
Ondo State has a Child Rights Law, enacted in 2007, which provides protection for children against sexual abuse and exploitation. The law specifically states in Section 31(1) that no person shall have sexual intercourse with a child.
The state government has also previously said that the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law provide legal protection against sexual abuse and other forms of violence in the state.
The case also illustrates why child-protection safeguards are particularly important for children working in domestic settings, where abuse can be difficult to detect and report.
Similarly, UNICEF said violence against children is pervasive in Nigeria, with six in 10 children experiencing at least one form of physical, sexual or emotional violence before the age of 18, as its national survey found that one in four girls and one in 10 boys had experienced sexual violence in childhood.
The survey also found that violence against children is frequently repeated and that perpetrators are often people known to the child, with abuse occurring in places where children are expected to be safe.
UNICEF’s 2024 Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Nigeria, published in 2026, similarly describes children as comprising almost half of Nigeria’s population and highlights continuing gaps in the protection and fulfilment of children’s rights.
Globally, the World Health Organisation defines sexual violence against children as intentional and unwanted sexual acts, whether completed or attempted, involving contact or non-contact acts and perpetrated against a child, including for exploitative purposes. It says violence against children can have lifelong consequences for their physical and psychological wellbeing.
