Chief Imam allegedly rapes 8-year-old girl in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

A Chief Imam, identified as Abdulkareem Kadiri, has reportedly been caught raping an 8-year-old girl (name withheld) in Babasanya-Araka area, Ede, Osun State.

The incident allegedly occurred around noon on Saturday after the girl was sent on an errand by her mother.

Eyewitnesses say the girl’s mother became alarmed when she could not find her daughter after she left home.

Oladele Oluwatosin, a postgraduate student at Redeemer’s University, Ede, recounted: “I was in the area with my colleagues for a DevComm campaign when we heard a commotion near Babasanya junction, drawing residents out.

“The mother caught the man, Abdulkareem Kadiri, who is the Chief Imam of a local mosque. The girl was crying and bleeding from her private parts.”

Another witness, Eyitayo, added, “Some followers of the Imam tried to help him escape, but angry residents prevented it. The victim was taken to Babasanya Hospital, where it was confirmed she had been defiled.

The Chief Imam was locked in a room at the hospital before Amotekun operatives arrived, took him to their office, and later handed him over to the police at ‘B’ Division, Ede.”

The Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident when contacted.