ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Inspector General of Police to stand against gross violation of the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Speaking in Abuja, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi said, “ActionAid Nigeria is dismayed by the recent news of Police Harassment, Battery, Vandalism, and Unlawful Arrests perpetrated by four uniformed men who claimed to be members of the Enugu Police Area Command in the office premises of Women Aid Collective’s (WACOL) in Enugu state in a bid to pervert justice on a Rape Case.
Describing it as appalling, the organization added that the Survivor of the attack, Barrister Goodness Ibangah, who almost died in the process, and the Organization she works for, WACOL, have been in the forefront of assisting the Nigerian Police to curb crimes in the country.
Lamenting further, Obi said: “Such Brutality by the police, who should be the custodians and upholders of the law, is nothing but an outright and total disregard for Human Life, Human Dignity, and the Law they claim to uphold.
“We do not consider this as an attack on One Woman, rather, it is an attack on all Nigerian Women; it is an attack on Survivors of Physical and Sexual Violence; it is an attack on Women working to protect Women; it is an attack on Women’s Rights; it is an attack on the Law Profession; it is an attack on Justice, and there must be consequences.”
While commending the Enugu State Commissioner of Police for setting up an investigation panel to look into the matter, the organization re-emphasize that for justice to be best served, the Rape Case should be transferred out of Enugu state to eliminate the bias and further threats as the Survivor, Witness and the Women’s Right Organisation in question.
ActionAid Nigeria, has therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police to the perpetrators of the assault on Barrister Goodness are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law, and alleged Rape Case fully investigated.
