As the public outcry over the alleged beating of one of the staff of Women Aid Collective, WACOL, handling a rape case involving the son of one Engr. Emenike by the operatives of the police from Area Command, Abakpa Nike, Enugu continues, Enugu state police command has called for “calm and maintain peace as well as desist from all forms of media sensationalism, as currently is the case, because media trial will not suffice.”
The command made the call in a press statement signed by ASP DANIEL E. NDUKWE, the police PRO. He went on to say: “The Commissioner of Police has set up a panel of inquiry, headed by CSP Okey Ambrose, a lawyer and a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force, to objectively look into the matter to ensure that justice prevails.
“That so far, the scenes of the incidents have been visited, while all the parties involved, including WACOL representatives as well as the parents and lawyers of the rape victim and suspect have been interviewed by a Team of Detectives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Command’s CID.
He assured that: “The Command will continue to respect and maintain the existing partnership it had long established with WACOL and other Civil and Human Rights Organizations in the fight against crimes and criminality in the State, especially Sexual, Gender-based crimes and the protection of vulnerable persons/groups, including the case under investigation.
“Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, wishes to assure the general public, especially the peaceful and law-abiding citizens of Enugu State, that ongoing investigations into the matter will be meticulous, fair and just to bring anyone found culpable to book, irrespective of whose Ox is gored.”
In another development, Women Aid Collective, WACOL expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the case has been handled by the police so far and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
In a terse statement by Mrs. Egodi Igwe, Head, Communication, WACOL, the organisation maintained that though they will “cooperate with the Enugu State Police, including responding and attending their scheduled Sunday, 2 Feb 2020 investigation panel meeting constituted by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State,” they will make the following demand:
- That we still need an independent investigation panel not overseen by the police, given the cover ups and attempts to distort facts and coerce witnesses by the Area Command and the State CID that released the alleged rapist on Friday without charging him to court.
- We demand full protection and guarantee of securities of persons involved, especially the victims and survivors of this unfortunate barbaric attacks on WACOL staff and property;
- The rape case in question needs to be transferred out of Enugu to ensure unbiased investigations into the matter, including for the security of the complainant, witnesses and WACOL team, especially Ms. Goodness Ibangah Esq. our lawyer that has been threatened severally by both the perpetrator’s family and the police at the area Command.
- That the Police Service Commission should constitute an independent body comprising CSOs, United Nations and/ or other internationally recognised independent observers.
We are grateful to Nigerians and the international community, especially the Nigerian Bar Association for their solidarity on this matter and stand against impunity, sexual and gender based violence.
