On the 29th of June, a 17-year-old resident of Lagos State was reportedly raped inside Ogudu Police Station in the Ojota area of the state. PUNCH reports that the accused offered to help the victim after overhearing the teenager recounting her ordeal about her stolen phone to her mother at her shop. The accused offered to help track her missing phone and take her statement.
Sources reveal that the victim was invited to the police station by the officer under the guise of identifying her phone, which had been recovered from the thieves. The officer lured her into an office and locked the door after she arrived. When challenged, the officer allegedly revealed his gun and threatened to shoot. After the victim’s failed attempt to call for help and escape, the officer proceeded to hit the victim on the head to incapacitate her before going ahead to defile her.
The mother of the victim, Aramide Olupona, had disclosed that her daughter began bleeding a day after the assault and was taken to Mirabel Centre, where the rape was confirmed. She added that the incident was also reported to the authorities.
Olupona alleged that both the suspect’s family and the Area Commander pressured her to drop the charges. They reportedly cited the officer’s upcoming retirement as a reason to forgo prosecution. The victim’s mother fears her low socioeconomic status could hinder her daughter’s fight for justice.
However, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed a full-scale and thorough investigation into the allegation. He said, “The Lagos State Police Command has placed under arrest one of its personnel accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl.”
The command assures the public that there is no attempt at a cover-up, as such hideous acts are at variance with the code of conduct and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.
What does this mean for women?
In Nigeria, nowhere is safe for women. In a rather weird twist, cases of females being assaulted in places they considered “safe” and “sanctuary” have become the norm, as with 22-year-old Vera, who was raped and killed at a local parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Edo state.
The role of the judiciary in safeguarding and protecting women has been a topic of debate, with many arguing that the judiciary has shortcomings in enforcing laws that protect women from violence or discrimination. For instance, a man who confessed to beating his wife to death was acquitted a few days ago.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Statistics (SGBV) in Lagos
Lagos State, ranked as the 19th best city to visit in the world, has experienced a shocking surge in sexual and gender-based violence over the past five years.
It was noted that 24,009 cases, which include sexual, physical, and psychological abuses, were reported in all 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State between January 2019 and December 2023. A breakdown of the data revealed a steady increase in reported cases.
In 2019, 3,446 SGBV cases were recorded, followed by 4,302 in 2020 and 3,943 in 2021. However, findings showed a surge in numbers in 2022 and 2023, with 5,929 and 6,389 SGBV cases reported, respectively.
This latest case has raised concerns about the safety of civilians, especially women, within police premises and the accountability of law enforcement officers. The incident has sparked public outrage and calls for justice, highlighting the need for stricter oversight and protection measures within police stations to prevent such abuse of power.
