A 21-year-old man, identified as Alabi Anthony, has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly raping and murdering a woman in the Iboropa community of Akoko North-East Local Government Area.

The victim, named as Olaseni Veronica, was reportedly lured and attacked in a secluded part of the community. Residents said her disappearance triggered anxiety in the area, prompting a search that eventually drew the attention of security agencies.

According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, detectives traced the crime through the victim’s missing mobile phone. Intelligence gathered by the police led to the tracking of the device, which was allegedly found in the possession of the suspect.

Jimoh explained that during interrogation, Anthony confessed to sexually assaulting Veronica before strangling her to death. The spokesperson described the incident as a chilling example of gender-based violence that has unsettled the quiet agrarian community.

He condemned the act as heinous and inhumane, stressing that the command is determined to ensure the suspect faces the full weight of the law. He added that the case has been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department at the police headquarters in Akure for further investigation and prosecution.

Police sources said investigators are working to reconstruct the victim’s last movements, verify the suspect’s account, and determine whether he acted alone or had accomplices. Forensic analysis and autopsy reports are expected to form part of the evidence to be presented in court.

The killing has sparked outrage among residents and renewed calls for stronger protection for women and more visible policing in rural communities. Community leaders in Iboropa have reportedly pledged to cooperate fully with law enforcement to aid the investigation and prevent a recurrence.

The Ondo State Police Command has urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid jungle justice, and provide any useful information that could assist the ongoing investigation, assuring that justice for the late Veronica will be pursued diligently.