Bus driver and assistant in custody for rape

A commercial bus driver and his conductor have been detained and charged with the rape of a woman by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police in Benin City.

The 18-year-old bus driver, Edo Osagiede and his conductor, 17-year-old Osabohen Egharebha were apprehended by some youths of the Evbhomore community, a suburb of Benin City while raping the woman who sells food to construction workers.

Chairman of the Evbhomore community, Julius Amadin who narrated how they were apprehended, said the suspects drove their bus to a remote area of the community where several buildings are under construction.
They lured their unsuspecting victim further down the quiet part of the road, under the pretext of buying food from her.

According to Mr Amadin, the suspects dragged the woman away from her wheelbarrow into the bush, where they tied her mouth with her head tie and took turns having sex with her.

Narrating her ordeal, the woman (name withheld), said the conductor was busy consuming her food while the driver was raping her,

and the bus driver also ate while the conductor took his turn with her.

She said her assailants ransacked her money bag and took the proceeds of her sales before leaving her.

The agonizing cry of the woman attracted some of the men who were working at a nearby site and had seen her dragging her wheelbarrow after the suspects. The construction workers called for the assistance of some other youth of the community, rescued the woman, apprehended the suspects and promptly handed them over to men of the Ugbowo Police Station, from where they were later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Unit Force headquarters in Benin City, for further investigation.

Appease the gods

The bus driver, Edo Osagiede who said he had never raped any woman before, blamed their action on the devil. He also accused his conductor of pushing him into committing the act. The conductor however denied the allegation, but accused the driver of luring him into joining him in the crime.

"Oga journalist, make I tell you the truth, my driver tell me say make I go call the woman wey dey sell food. I no know say he wan f*k the woman. After em do finish, em come call me say make me self come do. Na my driver pushed me to this devil work," Mr Egharebha said in pidgin English.

The woman's husband, who refused to give his name, told NEXT that the incident came as a rude shock to him. He said the suspects have committed a taboo, and something must be done to appease the gods of his village in Benue State.

Edo police spokesman, Peter Ogboi described the act as unfortunate. He assured that the suspects will be charged to court for rape and robbery as soon as investigations are completed on the matter.
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