THE Lagos State Police Command has taken one of its officers into custody for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl at the Area H Command in the Ogudu area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the detention in an X post on Sunday, July 14, and denied claims that the police were protecting the suspected rapist.
“The Lagos State Police Command has placed under arrest one of its personnel accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni has, meanwhile, directed a full-scale and thorough investigation into the allegation,” part of the statement read.
The statement further noted that the command reassured the public that it was not attempting to conceal the incident, emphasising that such acts contradicted the Nigeria Police Force’s code of conduct and professional ethics.
It vowed that the officer would face appropriate disciplinary measures and legal action if proven guilty.
It was reported that the police officer, stationed at the Ogudu Police Station in Ojota, had offered to help the teenager recover her phone, which had been stolen by ‘one chance’ robbers on June 16 while she was returning from Ikeja with her relatives.
Reports indicate that the suspect allegedly overheard the teenager narrating the theft to her mother at her shop and offered to assist in finding the missing phone and taking her statement.
According to the teenager, the officer called her mother on June 29, informing her that he had apprehended the person with the phone and asked her mother to send her to the police station.
She stated that upon arriving at the station, the officer sent his personal assistant to bring her to his office.
The teenager alleged that once she entered the suspect’s office, he locked the door, began harassing her, and eventually raped her.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org