Juliet Oladele, Reporting
LAGOS, Nigeria— Four teenagers, aged between 15 and 17, have been remanded in custody by a magistrates’ court in Lagos for allegedly gang-raping a 15-year-old girl in the Ikotun area of the state.
The incident is said to have taken place on 8th April 2026 at Irawowuro Street, Ikotun, where both the suspects and the victim reside. According to police reports, the boys lured the teenager before taking turns to forcefully have sex with her and then letting her go.
The matter only came to light after the victim confided in her parents, who promptly reported the case to local police. The four suspects were arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Command for questioning.
Following an interrogation, detectives found sufficient evidence to charge the teenagers before the Ogba Magistrate Court with defilement and conspiracy, offences that carry several years’ imprisonment under Lagos State law.
The charges read in part: “That you, on the 8th of April, 2026, at Irawowuro Street, Ikotun, Lagos, did conspire together to commit a felony to wit: defilement,” and “did defile the victim, ‘F’, 15 years old, by having unlawful carnal knowledge of her.”
The court did not take the pleas of the accused. Prosecutor Inspector Lucky Ihiehie requested that the matter be referred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Presiding Magistrate Mrs M.O. Tanimola ordered the teenagers to remain in custody pending the DPP’s advice. She also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP without delay.
The case has been adjourned for mention, with a potential transfer to the High Court expected should the DPP’s advice indicate that the magistrates’ court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In line with standard editorial policy concerning minors, the names of the four accused have been withheld.
