News: DPO accused of raping Cotonou cook granted bail

Investigation into the case of a Lagos Divisional Police Officer (DPO) accused of raping a detainee has again rekindled the need for professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force.
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Five officers who were detained along side the DPO have been cleared of wrong doing as they were not at the station when the incident allegedly took place in the DPO’s office. Although on duty, they had gone to eat.
Meanwhile, the DPO has been granted bail after three days of detention. Investigations are ongoing and findings will be made public said Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide.
The National Coordinator of the body that filed the petition on behalf of the victim, the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) Okechukwu Nwanguma said, “NOPRIN has continued to follow up on the progress of investigation and is satisfied that the investigation team has made far-reaching and illuminating inroad in their effort to unravel the truth and recommend appropriate disciplinary and remedial actions”.
Giving insight into the investigations so far Nwanguma said, ‘’With the confirmation of the narrative by the victim in her statement to the police, especially her description of the DPO’s office and the illustration made of it; and with the conflicts in the various statements made by the DPO and other detained police officers on duty on the day of the incident, there is no doubt about the veracity and credibility of the victim’s claims. We call on the investigating team to remain focused, steadfast and professional and resist any pressure to compromise the investigation. We expect that investigation should be concluded pretty early and that on conclusion of investigation, the report will be made public and appropriate sanctions imposed on the culprits.”
The NOPRIN boss commended the Inspector General of Police, Mohamed Abubarkar adding that: “Were it not for the early intervention of the IGP, this matter would very likely have been swept under the carpet as had happened in the past.”