- ‘Police On A Silent Protest Against Nigerian People,’ Says Lawyer
By Shakirudeen Bankole
Indications have emerged on the possible surge in the nefarious activities of rapists and pedophiles in parts of the country, especially in Lagos, where the destroyed formations of the nation’s leading civil law enforcement agency – Nigeria Police, remain down.
In the wake of the violent disruption that cascaded the anti-police brutality protest, tagged #EndSARS, 16 police stations were burnt and 13 looted by angry mobs, while some police personnel lost their lives.
49 civilians, including unarmed protesters, and some hoodlums, were also killed.
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The development has however impaired the quest for justice for the victims of rape cases, as fresh incidences are being turned down by the few police stations that are still operating as they become overwhelmed.
The New Diplomat exclusively gathered that while existing rape cases in areas like Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Ojo, and Oshodi, have suffered some setbacks due to the destructions of the police formations, dozens more could not be processed because of the current situation.
Where police formations were untouched, the officers have been reluctant to attend to complaints, according to findings.
One of such cases was that of an 8-year-old girl caught being raped by a 50-year-old man in Ipakodo, Ikorodu area of Lagos few days ago.
The victim’s mother, identity withheld because of stigmatization, said, “I want good Nigerians to come to my rescue. I caught a 50 year old man raping my daughter. My daughter is eight years old. Please help me,” she cried for help.
According to the first responder to the incident, Mrs. Nkechi Odebiyi, Executive Director, Virgin Spite Foundation, the abused child confessed to the health worker that attended to her that the man had slept with her four different times before he was caught, and told her not to tell anyone otherwise he would kill her.
Shortly after the incident, the young girl was taken to the Ipakodo Health Center, together with the Community Development Association Secretary of the area, who hinted that the culprit has been engaging in the criminal act with minors for long.
According to Odebiyi, “when they got to my office, the Community Development Association Secretary told us that he was interested in coming forward because it appears the same man had been doing similar things to small girls around the area and nobody was willing to spill the beans.”
He said he wanted the issue addressed properly and the man brought to book, so as to serve as deterrence to rape incidence in the community, the responder added.
According to her, “the truth is the family of the victim went to report the matter around Ipakodo, but the Police people said they should go and settle their case themselves. That sebi the citizens said Police is not their friends.
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“But by the time the matter was reported, the perpetrator had ran away but his family remained in the same compound with the family of the victim. Plus I just got information now that the wife of the perpetrator is currently helping her husband to pack his bag, that he is possibly running away anytime soon,” Odebiyi said, soliciting for help to nab the perpetrator.
In another scenario, one Emeka, a 38-year-old man, allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl in Jakande Area of Lekki, Ajah, Lagos earlier in the week.
As if that was not enough, the mother claimed the perpetrator had sent his junior brothers and some thugs to beat her up and burn down her shop.
She added that “the boys also said there is nothing I can do that the girl, who is a nine-year-old, is dating their brother of 38-year-old.”
According to her, “the man told me point blank that I can’t do anything to him. That anywhere I take them to, they will explain that it is a Boyfriend and Girlfriend thing.”
Though the matter has been reported at Ilasan Police Station in Jakande and is currently being attended to but New Diplomat gathered, exclusively, that the police morale is low presently.
While efforts to get police response proved abortive, as the Police Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached on his phone, Barrister Nelson Olanipekun, Founder, Citizen Gavel, said no doubt, “the police is on a silent protest against the Nigerian people.”
According to him, “Since #EndSARS happened, most stations have refused to entertain complaints from citizens. This is against their statutory mandate to prevent, investigate, and bring criminals to justice.
“You can’t blame a police man for leaving the street. It is a matter of life and death for them, it is someone that is alive that would have a job.
“We therefore encourage that concerns of citizens on issues of human rights and police on issues of threat by hoodlums must be adequately addressed.” He said.
Findings also revealed that the current confusion in the reinstatement of the normal routine of the police has widened the chances of other criminals.
