By Olasunkanmi Akoni

THE Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has concluded plans to prosecute the four members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, who allegedly gang-raped a 30-year-old woman in Lagos.

It will be recalled that the 30-year-old woman, was allegedly raped last week by four members of OPC, in Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos.

However, the police, which had initially denied any knowledge of the incident, yesterday, confirmed that one of the suspects had been arrested and detained at Alapere Police Station.

The Co-ordinator, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, yesterday, confirmed the development to Vanguard.

According to Vivour-Adeniyi, the state government was following the development with keen interest and awaiting the completion of investigations by police before the trial will commence.

“We have received the report of the rape case and we have communicated to the police authorities our intent to prosecute the case as soon as police investigation was completed.

“This morning (yesterday), Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Alapere has confirmed the arrest of one of the suspects and has been taken to Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for remand proceedings.”

She, however, said the Directorate of Public Prosecu-tion, DPP, will prosecute the suspects as soon as police complete investigations.

Vivour-Adeniyi, meanwhile, urged victims of sexual and gender-based violence to speak out as the state government was ready to fight all such causes and ensure justice was served.

It was learned that if convicted, the culprits face life imprisonment, in accordance with the Section 258 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State 2011.

Meanwhile, a source close to the victim, said she was beaten and raped by four men inside her makeshift shop at Mile 12 market.

According to the source, after raping her, the suspects threatened to harm her should she attempt to report the incident to anybody, after bragging that she cannot do them anything.

The victim was rushed to a hospital, where she narrated her experience to workers.

The source also disclosed that the victim was still receiving treatments at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.

According to the source, the lady is still in pains and cannot speak to newsmen.

The state government had inaugurated DSVRT in September 2014 as a response to the increase in incidents of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect and maltreatment in the state.