Police in Ogun State have denied allegation of professional misconduct against them by a foundation over the case of alleged gang rape by four suspects in Ijebu-Ode.

The suspects are: Kalu Prosper, Oche Destiny, Adamu Paul and Adewusi Qudus.

Safer Society for Children (SSC), in conjunction with the Elegant Nurses Forum (ENF), had accused the police of bribery and unprofessionalism in handling the case.

Convener of SSC, Kunle Sodipo, alleged that the police at Igbeba allegedly tried to intimidate and bribe parents of the victim into silence in order to sweep the case under the carpet.

Sodipo demanded investigation and prosecution of the four suspects, and requested prosecution of alleged corrupt police personnel at Igbeba Divisional Headquarters, Ijebu-Ode, and all others culpable in the case.

He called on the police command in the state to protect the victim and her family from further harassment and intimidation, and ensure transparency and regular updates on the progress of the case.

The convener said: “The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has failed to protect the victim. They instead expose her to further harm and humiliation. The officers at Igbeba have breached confidentiality, disclosed the victim’s address, and allowed the suspects’ parents to intimidate and bribe the family into silence.

”This is not just a case of rape; it’s a case of institutional betrayal. The police, who are meant to protect and serve, have become enablers of injustice. If this can happen to one of our own, it can happen to anyone. Someone else’s daughter today, God forbid, it may be another person’s daughter tomorrow,” Sodipo added.

But the police dismissed the allegation that it did not handle the case professionally, insisting that the four suspects had been charged to court.

Spokesperson for the command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Babaseyi said thorough investigation on the alleged rape case was followed from medical examinations, evidence collection to proper documentation, stressing that the command prioritised the victim’s safety in the course of its investigation.

He said: “The Ogun State Police Command wishes to respond to the allegations of professional misconduct raised in the petition by SSC Foundation and the ENF dated March 22, 2026. The command assures the public that the investigation of the alleged rape incident in Ijebu-Ode was conducted with the highest level of professionalism at every stage.

“The suspects – Kalu Prosper, Oche Destiny, Adamu Paul, and Adewusi Qudus – have been formally charged to court, and the judiciary is actively handling the case to ensure justice is served. At no point was the victim compromised. The command ensured that all necessary requirements for a thorough investigation, including medical examinations, evidence collection and proper documentation, were strictly adhered to,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (CP), LanreOgunlowo, has instituted an investigation into the claims raised in the petition, saying the command remained open to verifiable facts and would act decisively if any breach of duty is established, reinforcing transparency and accountability.

The command urged the public to come forward with credible information to assist the investigation, stressing that updates on the case would be made available as it progresses, while emphasising the command’s unwavering commitment to justice.
RELATEDLY, an author from Ozoro, AnoteAjeluorou, has called for the dismissal of Police Area Commander for Ozoro, Zakari Mohammad, over the recent sexual assault in Ozoro Festival.

He said the Commissioner of Police, AinaAdesola must ask critical questions about his men operating in Ozọrọ.

Noting that there’s a police station and an Area Command in Ozoro, which is about 300 metres away from the scene of the incident, he queried: “Why did they not intervene to arrest the situation? Were they sleeping on duty? How could they not have heard or seen the disturbance? Did they need someone to file a complaint first before taking action?

“It disheartening that a public peace-disturbing incident of that magnitude took place right under the nose of an area commander, yet he and his men could not respond to nip it in the bud. That’s policing failure of monumental proportion that must not go unpunished.”

Ajeluorou demanded investigation of the commander and his men, and if found culpable, should immediately be redeployed from Ozọrọ.

“His action and those of his men is nothing but an embarrassment to policing in the community. Ozọrọ needs proper policing the sort Mohammad is not capable of giving.

“We condemn without equivocation the needless molestation of young girls when miscreants hijacked a peaceful fertility festival known as Alue-Doh. We sympathise with those affected and commend the arrest and demand that those arrested face the full weight of the law. We also demand better policing in Ozọrọ, a cosmopolis and home to a university that is growing in population,” Ajeluorou added.