Women Group Petitions IG over Police Brutality, Harassment

The coalition of 200 women under the umbrella of Women Aid Collective (WACOL) on Thursday protested and petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, over officers’ brutality of its worker, Goodness Ibangha, in Enugu State and other gender-based violations.

At a world press conference in Abuja, its Founding Director, Professor Joy Ezeilo, on Thursday explained that Ibangha's offence was that she refused to bring forth a rape victim after she had reported the case to the police and even handed over the victim's details.

"The police later called Ibangha requesting her to provide the victim, one Miss E. I., a 21-year-old lady, to them as the parents of the suspect had plans of settling the issues with the victim and her family. Ibangha told them that she had handed over the matter to them and therefore they should source the victim themselves with the contact detail she provided in her statement with them.

"Instead of inviting the victim with the contact she provided, the Area Commander, Inspector Chinyere, in charge of JWC and some other officers kept calling Ibangha and trying to intimidate and coerce her to providing the victim for settlement with the family of the suspect," she said.

 

Ezeilo narrated that "four police officers from the Area Command in Enugu stormed our office and still requested that our office should provide the victim again for them. The legal unit of our office repeatedly told them that we had already handed over the matter to them and that they should look for the victim themselves. These officers failed to listen, instead, started entering into all the rooms in our office and when they saw Ibangha, the officers mercilessly beat her up to a state of near unconsciousness.

The founding director of the group said: "They also beat one Ms Nneka Okwor, who pleaded with them to stop beating Ibangha. It was such a dastardly beating that Ibangha ran to the toilet to save her life, yet the officers chased her like a hardened criminal dragged her out and continued beating this helpless and unarmed lady who was assisting the police to curb crimes in the state."

Consequently, on behalf of the other coalition, she urged the IG to "constitute an independent investigation panel not controlled by the police and whose membership should include members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society organiSations, and internationally recognised independent observers.

"Transfer the rape case in question out of Enugu State to ensure unbiased investigations into the matter, including for the security of the complainant, witnesses and WACOL team, especially Ibangha; our lawyer who has been threatened severally by both the perpetrator’s family and the police at the Area Command.

"We demand full protection and guarantee of security of persons involved, especially the victims and survivors of this unfortunate barbaric attacks on WACOL staff and property."

Meanwhile, the Country Director, ActionAid, Ene Obi, urged women to stand for one another, as she challenged women who have been raped or beaten to come out and speak out, tasking President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter.

"It is time to remove our wrapper to fight against police brutality, sexual and domestic violence. We will stand with you. The issue against women is not new, but it is on the increase,” Obi added.