Alleged sexual harassment: Imo police command debunks allegations … As PCRC denies knowledge of petitioner
The Imo state police command has debunked a report of alleged sexual harassment of
female police officers and other forms of misconduct by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)
in-charge of New Owerri, CSP Abideen Salawu, contained in a petition addressed to the
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
This is as the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state has denied
knowledge of the petitioner, one Chief Ogumba Onyeaghala, who claimed to be a
member of the PCRC of New Owerri division and dissociated itself from the widely
circulated petition which indicts the Nigeria Police in Imo.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Henry Okoye, in a release last Thursday,
said it would no longer spare any person or group who spreads, promotes or publishes
false, misleading information against the command and its personnel.
C- Advocate reports that some online media platforms had last Tuesday carried a report
captioned; “Police Community Official Accuses Imo State DPO Of Sexual Assault,
Harassment Of Female Officers”, wherein the senior police officer was accused of sexually
assaulting, harassing and intimidating female officers in his division.
The PPRO however described the allegations as “unfounded, malicious and mischievous”,
adding that “ after the command carried out thorough investigation over the allegations, it
was discovered that both the petition and publication were calculated attempt to malign the
reputation of the DPO”.
He said that efforts were in progress to apprehend the originators and purveyors of the
“misleading publication” and ensure they face the law.
He reiterated that the Police Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma’s commitment to ensuring that
personnel under his watch are protected from any form of sexual harassment and gender
discrimination.
“Without any ambivalence, the Command views the publications as a deliberate and
concerted attempt by mischief makers to dampen the reputation and morale of the
Divisional Police Officer as well as the already established confidence he has built in the
minds of the residents of New Owerri.
“The Command calls on the general public, particularly the residents of New Owerri to
disregard the mischievous publications and continue to support the DPO in his quest for
public safety.
“Media print correspondents are advised to always verify their news content before
publishing as all forms of misinformation and misleading contents might cause disaffection
to the public.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, reaffirms the Command’s
unalloyed dedication to discharging its constitutional mandates while ensuring that its
personnel are protected from any form of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.”
In his reaction, Imo Chairman of the PCRC, Mr Chima Chukwunyere, while addressing
newsmen in Owerri, last Friday, said that the said Onyeaghala is not known to the
PCRC at the state, national or zonal levels and should therefore not lay claims to
membership of the committee in any form whatsoever.
He frowned at the acclaimed membership of the PCRC, describing it as a deliberate
effort to undermine the integrity and good image of the Committee in Imo, while
advising members of the public to take the petition and its content with a pinch of salt.
“ We have an already established system that allows any member of the PCRC who
has issues with the police to forward their grievances to the PCRC chairman for
necessary action.
“ The said petitioner has failed to do this, obviously because he is not a member of the
PCRC and we therefore dissociate ourselves from him and the petition.
“ It is my responsibility to protect members of the PCRC but this manner of fabrication
against the police is not in our nature “, Chukwunyere said.
He called for thorough, unbiased investigation into the allegations contained in the
petition to determine the substance of the matter and prevent its recurrence, as results
of preliminary investigations already countered the claims by the petition.
He however restated the PCRC’s commitment to effective representation of the civil
public and ensuring a cordial relationship between the police and the public.
He added that “membership of the PCRC is open to members of the public except ex
convicts , cultists and known criminals “. (newspaper website address