Police Investigate Alleged Sexual Harassment Of Inmates By Officers

 

Ismaeel Uthman

THE State of Osun Command of the Nigeria Police Force has begun investigations into the alleged sexual exploitation and harassment of two female suspects by policemen while in detention. 

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Wale Olokode ordered investigations into the allegations immediately he read the report of the allegation.

Olokode, who was said to be furious on the allegation, promised to pin down any Police officer, who at one time or the other, took advantage of suspects in any case, according to Opalola. 

It would be recalled that two accused persons, Joy Esu Ogunmba and Olawoyin Aina accused some policemen attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun Command, of committing sexual assault against them. 

Ogunmba, who was arrested for alleged kidnapping, said she was sexually exploited while in custody of the Police by an officer simply known as Taofeek, before she was arraigned in court and remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.

According to Ogunmba, Taofeek slept with her twice in an office at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Osogbo, on the promise that he would assist in securing her release. 

Making similar allegation, a 25-year-old armed robbery suspect, Mrs. Olawoyin Aina, said she was sexually harassed by a policeman during her detention period at the SCID, Osogbo. 

According to her, a Police officer simply known as Dare, who was part of the team that arrested her demanded for sex as condition to help her out of the case.

She said: “On August 8, 2018, the Police raided our house in Ede and arrested my husband, two kids and I. We were detained at the State CID in Osogbo. Later, the two kids and my husband were admitted to bail with the aid of my mother in-law, having paid a sum of N200,000. I was left behind in the cell. 

“One the night of our arrest, one tall and fair Police officer, named Dare, from the Intelligence Department came to my cell around 12am. He was part of the officers that came to arrest me. He brought me out to take my statement, which they had done earlier. He said he was willing and ready to secure my bail on the condition that I should agree to have sex with him. I told him I could not, because my husband was also in the cell. 

“There was another Police officer called Babalawo; he usually came into the cell through the window. He would demand from all female suspects in the cell that we should play with him. He would fondle our breast and also finger our private parts, or take us out one after the other to perpetrate the evil act. We were about five females in the cell then.

However, Opalola in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “Investigations have begun into the matter. The Commissioner, Mr. Wale Olokode, ordered investigations into the matter immediately he read the report. He wants to get to the root of the matter.

“Our Commissioner is a no-nonsense man. He respects the rights of everybody, including those of the suspects because they are yet to be pronounced guilty by the court. So, investigations are ongoing on the matter and you can rest assured of our sincerity. We will pin down any Police officer, who at one time or the other, took advantage of suspects in any case.”