Alleged victim of gender-based violence accuses Lagos police gender unit of bias

A 40-year-old housewife, Oluchi, has accused the Lagos State police gender unit of escalating gender-based violence in the state.

The mother of four alleged that for 18 years, her husband, Longinus, turned her into a punching bag, beating her at will, even in the presence of her children.

She said when she could no longer bear the beatings, she ran to the police, and rather than help her, they seemingly took sides with the husband.

She also took the matter to Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN), seeking solace and justice, maintaining that her 48-year-old husband beat her at the slightest provocation, and that her life was in danger.

The Guardian learnt that the matter was first reported at the Ejigbo police station, where she was allegedly told by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to bring eyewitnesses of the assault.

The DPO in charge of Ejigbo Police Division, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Vero Ameh-Akpa, has since explained why she asked Oluchi to provide eyewitnesses.

She said: “The perpetrator insisted that he wasn’t the one that injured his wife. To make my complainant’s case very solid, I asked her to bring her witness because, on the day of the incident, her close friend witnessed the incident but declined to give her statement.

“The man insisted he wasn’t the one who inflicted injuries on her. I asked the victim to bring a witness to help us make her case stronger. I am a trained Gender and Child Protection Officer who doesn’t take gender cases lightly. Since I resumed in Ejigbo police station, I know the cases I have transferred to the Ikeja Gender Unit, just to make sure a victim gets justice. I told the victim that once she brings a witness and her husband remains adamant, we will transfer the case to the gender unit.”

When the matter was later transferred to the gender unit of the Lagos State Police Command, Oluchi said it took a different turn.

She said: “The idea was for him to write an undertaking, but the unit instead emboldened him. He did not write the undertaking. Instead, he left the place and locked up my shop. The officer in charge of the gender unit told me that my decision to leave the marriage for my safety was too harsh.

“She said that I should think of my children. How can I be running for my life and the police who are supposed to help me are saying my decision was too harsh? I bought all the goods in that shop myself. The shop is my source of livelihood. He has no right to lock up my shop! I am tired of this disgrace and embarrassment.

“I borrowed money from a micro-finance bank to start the business. Now, he has locked it. This is sheer wickedness. We built our house together. Now, he feels he can push me out.

“He knows that whenever I am unhappy, going to my shop to sell items makes me happy. Right now, I am frustrated! I have suffered. He has damaged the door to my room, and my life is in danger.

“He accuses me every time of sleeping with other men.”

The woman noted that the last incident, on April 19, was so disturbing that she had to run to ACVPN, where the Head of Rescue and Referral, Comrade Toyin Okanlawon, attended to her.

Longinus declined to speak via phone but took to WhatsApp chat, saying: “I prefer face-to-face interviews. Lots of calls (sic), police, human rights, church, individuals (sic), and all are different approaches (sic). I don’t know… okay, you sound genuine (sic). Though I’m being very careful with people before someone sets me up. It is good to meet one on one.”

Reacting, co-founder of ACVPN, Mr Ebenezer Omejalile, said: “ACVPN’s position on this case is that the approach applied by the current Ikeja OC Gender, Lagos Police Command, Clemetina Udoro, is not acceptable because her behaviour has clearly shown that she is biased.

“If the OC Gender is truly an experienced gender unit officer, it is expected of her to apply or advise civil protection for the victim who alleged she suffered physical violence for years, with evidence available.

“The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act VAPP 2015 clearly stated in Section 28(1) that aggrieved persons can apply for a protection order that would be applicable in any part of Nigeria if granted. Can we say the OC Gender applied this process? The answer is capital NO! This is because she does not have the requisite ability to manage such scenarios that require common sense.

“The same applies to the Lagos State Domestic Violence Law, which appreciates the fact that any person who is allegedly subjected to any form of domestic violence including children in the care of the victim, can apply for a protection order.

“This brings to the forefront our cases that have been truncated by the new OC Gender. The new OC Gender’s administration requires a revisit; one such case is the sexual harassment case and attempted murder meted out on a 15-year-old girl.”

He called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, to look into the matter and other cases that new OC Gender had allegedly truncated.

Reacting, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not aware of the matter, and promised to contact the new OC Gender unit for details.

Later, he called, saying the OC Gender denied knowledge of the matter. He added that if the story was published, he would personally forward it to the Commissioner of Police.

Photo and Caption: CP Adegoke Fayoade