An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 31-year-old man, Harry Terry, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olubunmi Bamidele, ordered that the defendant be remanded to a correctional centre pending legal advice.
She adjourned the case until April 8, 2026, for mention.
Earlier, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had brought an application seeking the remand of the defendant.
In a Form K filed by the police, the prosecutor, Inspector Olubu Apata, said the defendant committed the offence on March 1 in Ado-Ekiti.
He told the court that the defendant allegedly raped the 17-year-old girl.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Apata said Terry saw the girl on the street at midnight and, while pretending to assist her, took her to his house and raped her.
According to him, the offence contravenes Section 31 of the Child Rights Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant to a correctional centre pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The menace of rape in Nigeria has become a growing concern, raising serious questions about safety, justice and the protection of vulnerable citizens. Across many communities, cases of sexual violence against women, children and even men are increasingly reported, with disturbing regularity.
Civil society organisations, the media and human rights groups have continued to highlight the alarming trend, noting that many victims suffer in silence due to fear, stigma and societal pressure. The psychological trauma, physical injuries and long-term emotional scars left on survivors make rape one of the most devastating crimes confronting the nation today.
Experts attribute the rising incidents to several factors, including weak enforcement of laws, cultural silence around sexual abuse, and inadequate punishment for offenders. In many cases, victims face blame, intimidation or pressure to withdraw complaints, allowing perpetrators to escape justice.
