Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Rivers police set up panel to probe officer’s sexual assault allegation 

By Obinna Nwaoku, Port Harcourt
31 August 2022   |   3:14 am
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, has ordered a discreet investigation into an alleged sexual abuse case involving a 17-year-old girl and an officer.

Nigerian police (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, has ordered a discreet investigation into an alleged sexual abuse case involving a 17-year-old girl and an officer. 

The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this while reacting to the allegation, said the outcome of the findings will be made public.

She said: “The Commissioner of Rivers State Police Command (CP), Eboka Friday, has called both parties over the alleged offence for discreet investigation. The outcome will be made known to the public.”

The Guardian learnt that a teenager, simply identified as Binla had alleged that a police officer known as Salihu Kazeem, alongside his boys stripped the teenager and her friend naked, took video of them and abused them sexually after accusing them of stealing his money.

Binla, in a telephone interview, narrated that the incident happened in March.

She said:  “It was in March this year, I was discussing with my friend about getting a job. She told me that she was going to visit her friend and that I should come with her, that maybe I could ask the man to get me a job. So when I saw the man I spoke to him, He asked me my age, I told him, I am 17 years old.

“He told me that since I am 17 there are jobs that I cannot do. That he will see what he can do and get back to me.

“After that, he asked if we had eaten, and we said no. He gave us his ATM card that we should go and get anything we want to eat. We went and bought food and came back with the ATM card and gave him the ATM card.

“So he later claimed that he had debit alerts on his phone, we asked him the amount, but he refused to tell us.

“So, he discharged my friend that brought me and kept me with the other girl I met there.

“He called his boys and told them we were thieves. They ordered us to pull our clothes. After pulling our clothes, he recorded our nakedness. He told us that if we didn’t cooperate with him, he was going to spread the nude videos. He took us to a room and poured us teargas and slept with us till the next morning before discharging us.

“Then, like one month after he has been coming, like three times now. Any time he comes, if we refused to go with him, he will threaten to share our nude videos, then I will go with him and he will sleep with me.

“This last time he came, I was not around. He told my friend they should tell me to come, but when they told me, I refused to go. Then on the following Monday when I was going to repair my slippers, he met me on the road and asked if my friend did not tell me to come, I said they told me. He asked why I did not come, I said nothing, then he dragged my phone from my hand that I should come with him.

“That when I am ready to pay him the N500, 000 he lost in his account, I should come and collect the phone.

“Today, I went to Rumupakani (Ada George) Police station to make a complaint. So, the police went with me to the man’s house, but we did not see him.

“After I got home, people told me some boys came to look for me and I do not know the boys.
“My life is under threat. I don’t know if he is the one that sent the boys. I am calling on the public because my life is under threat”.

When contacted, the officer, Salihu Kazeem claimed the girls did not come back the night he gave the ATM card but sent one of their friends to return his ATM card.

He alleged that he has been receiving debit alerts ever since he gave the girls his ATM card even as of Saturday, August 27, 2022.

He denied taking nude videos of the girls, insisting that they stole N500, 000 from his account.

The policeman however agreed that the three times he slept with the girls were with their consent, and he paid for their service.

He admitted seizing the girl’s phone.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

A lawyer with the rights group, Fetus Bonwin advised the officer to submit himself for investigation.
 
Bonwin called on police authorities to thoroughly investigate the girl and the officer and if anyone is found culpable, he/she should be charged to court.

0 Comments