How Ibadan ‘rape’ victim, Barakat Bello, was found dead with her panties on her knees
The Nigeria internet community has been filled with rage in the past week over increasing reports of rape and killing of young girls in their homes and worship center in the past one month.
While Nigerians are still expressing anger over Uwaila Omozuwa’s death in Benin, Edo state on Saturday, news of the death of another 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital sparked a new wave of outrage and online protests.
Neusroom gathered that Barakat Bello’s lifeless body was found in the pool of her blood on Monday evening in Kara, a remote community in Moniya, Akinyele local government area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The hashtag #JusticiaForBarakat has trended on social media on Wednesday to demand justice for her.
Several tweets reporting the death of the teenager, seen by Neusroom, claimed Barakat a National Diploma 1 (ND1) student of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State, was raped and murdered by unknown hoodlums at her parents’ home.
A Twitter user with the handle @Dammielawlar who broke the news on Wednesday morning shared the deceased’s photo and wrote; “You see this beautifully covered lady? She got RAPED and MURDERED around her Akinyele home in ÌBÀDÀN yesterday!!”
A popular Twitter influencer based in Ibadan with the handle, @BhadmusAkeem also alleged that, “A Hijabite, Barakat was reportedly raped & murdered close to her Dad’s house at Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan (2/6/20). Rapists don’t care about your age, dress code or consent, they are evil & should be made to face the wrath of law!”
The Vice President of the Student Union Government (SUG) of Barakat’s institution, Alicia Ajibola, however, told Neusroom that from the account of the family, there are indications that she was raped and killed by unknown assailants.
In a telephone interview with Neusroom on Wednesday afternoon, Ajibola, who led a team of the students’ representatives to Barakat’s family house on a condolence visit, said the deceased was at home alone when she was attacked, her younger brother who returned from Quranic school in the evening found her at the backyard in the pool of her blood.
“The parents told us she was going to have her bath and had a wrapper on her when she was attacked,” Ajibola said. “Her (Barakat) younger brother who is about seven or eight years old found her lifeless body in the pool of her blood at their back of the house on his return from ‘ile keu’ (Quranic school) around 4pm.”
She added that from the account of the deceased’s family, her panties was found on her knees while her wrapper was also seen on the floor with a stab wound on her neck.
In her description of the residence where Barakat was killed, the students’ union leader said the house which has no fencing is located in a remote area surrounded by bush. She added that “the bathroom, located at the back of the house is a makeshift made of wood log and a roofing sheet,” suggesting that the residents of the area are vulnerable to attacks due to the location.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Oyo State Police Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident to Neusroom.
Fadeyi in a telephone interview with Neusroom correspondent said there is no medical report to confirm that she was raped before she was murdered.
He, however, frowned at the action of the parent who buried Barakat before reporting to the police on Wednesday, three days after the incident.
