Patience Ogbo/
The campaign against sexual abuse of women and girls in Nigeria by law enforcement agents has been intensified by two human rights groups in Lagos.
Network for Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and Project Alert, a Non-Profit Organization promoting the rights of women and girls, joined other rights groups in the world to commemorate this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign with a joint press conference.
Held at the Watercass Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, the conference drew world attention to sexual abuse by law enforcement officials urging the relevant authorities to bring sexual offenders in uniform to book.
Nsini Udonta, the Programme Officer for Project Alert, gave a background to the 16 Days Activism.
Emmanuel Ikule the National Coordinator of NOPRIN said, “November 25th marks the beginning of this year’s 16 Days of Activism. It is also the International Day on Violence against Women.
“There couldn’t have been a better day for NOPRIN to speak to the press about an area of much concern to NOPRIN – Sexual abuse of women by law enforcement officers. In April this year, there were allegations that the police at Utako Division had sexually abused about 70 women arrested around Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory for being “prostitutes”.
“The ladies were arrested at various evening hangouts and nightclubs and tagged “prostitutes” by the police and other law enforcement agencies working on the orders of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
“While in police detention, it was alleged that some of the women whom the police could not extort money from were sexually abused. This led to a huge outcry on social media and street protest in Abuja on May 10th as people demanded an end to police impunity, a crackdown on and abuse of women and girls in Nigeria.”
Speaking further on the sexual abuse by law enforcement officials, Mr Ikule said, “In yet another report, a policeman raped the 9-year-old daughter of a policewoman at a police barracks in Lagos.
“The police sergeant identified as Mohammed Alidu, defiled the girl at Makinde Barracks, Oshodi, Lagos.
“Also this year, soldiers at a Check-Point along Akure-Ikare Akoko Road raped a female student of Adekunle Ajasin University. The soldiers who were deployed to the area to deal with the incessant reports of kidnapping ended up committing sexual crimes.”
Speaking on the efforts of international organizations to stop sexual crimes, Mr. Ikule said, “Amnesty International had during the launch of a report late last year titled “Nigeria: Rape the Silent Weapon” drawn attention to what is referred to as disturbing trends of rape and sexual violence against women and girls at the hands of police and security forces. It argued that the acts are further compounded and encouraged by the failure of the criminal justice system to bring the culprit to book. Thus on the occasion of this year’s International Day on Violence Against Women and the beginning of the 16 days of Activism, which has its theme ‘Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape’. NOPRIN is calling on the Inspector – General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff to take appropriate steps to curb the acts of sexual violence being perpetrated by their men. Enough of Impunity. NOPRIN will be working closely with Project Alert to monitor and report police sexual and gender-based Violence against women and girls in Nigeria.”
Also present at the event were members of Civil rights organizations, Federation of Female Lawyers FIDA led by FIDA Lagos State Chairperson Mrs Philomena Nneji, Bar. Sarah Unobe of the International Centre for Human Rights Non-violence and Safety awareness among others who lend their voices to stop violence against women as they call for preventive measures to stop sexual crimes.
Mrs Nneji said, “People must learn to speak out. This culture of silence is not helping matters and we need more enlightenment.”
They also urge for more public awareness and enlightenment to stamp out sexual crimes by teaching members of the public how to gather evidence against law enforcement officials who might want to destroy evidence after abusing them sexually.
Unobe said, “Our court is not a court of sentiments and emotions. Our court is evidence-based. Law enforcement officials know the law and they can get rid of the evidence by telling victims to go wash off and take their bath. They kill evidence that can nail them. Therefore it is pertinent to stop sexual crimes by teaching members of the public how to gather evidence against law enforcement officials.”
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