Bella Ifasola

Lagos – An unnamed Nigerian police officer has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Lagos State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this on Sunday, said the Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has directed a thorough investigation into the allegation.

Hundeyin noted that there was no attempt to cover-up the case. He said that the act is not in consonance with the code of conduct and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

He quoted Fayoade to had assured that if the accused officer is found culpable, he would be dealt with in line with the extant regulations of the Force.

“The Lagos State Police Command has placed under arrest one of its personnel accused of defiling a 17-year old girl,” the police statement said.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni has, meanwhile, directed a full-scale and thorough investigation into the allegation.

“The Command assures the public that there is absolutely no attempt at a cover-up as such hideous acts are at variance with the code of conduct and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

“To this end, CP Fayoade once again assures Nigerians that the officer would be dealt with in accordance with police regulations and the law if found culpable.”

The suspected sex offender police officer, who is attached to the Ogudu Police Station, Ojota, had offered to help the teenager get back her phone, which was stolen by ‘one chance’ robbers on June 16 while she was returning from Ikeja with her relatives.

He reportedly overheard the teenager narrating what happened to her to her mother at her shop and offered to help track the missing phone and take her statement.

According to the teenager, the officer on June 29 called her mum and informed her that he had arrested the person with her phone and asked her mum to send her to his police station.

She said that when she got to the station, the officer sent his personal assistant to call her into his office. The teenager alleged that when she got into the suspect’s office, he locked the door and started harassing her, and eventually raped her.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency in a referral letter dated July 1, 2024, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, had urged him to handle the case with utmost urgency.

“Our office refers 17-year-old (name withheld), to you for your kind assistance. A mandated reporter alleged that the girl was defiled by a police officer, who works with Ogudu Police Station, Ojota on Saturday, June 29, 2024,” the letter said.

“The allegations levied against the officer constitute the offenses of defilement, sexual assault, and indecent practices punishable under the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State (2015) and the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015). We would appreciate it if this case is handled with the utmost urgency.”

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