Following
the shocking allegation that police officers and army officials are
involved in r*ping IDPs, the Nigerian Police have begun investigation
into the matter.
File photo: Men of the Nigerian police force
A panel has been set up by the Nigerian Police to investigate cases
of s*xual abuse in Internally Displaced Persons camps which was first
reported by global rights group, Human Rights Watch.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier called on security operatives to investigate the allegations, published on Monday.
Human Rights Watch reported extensive s*xual abuse and exploitation
in the IDP camps, and accused security personnel and other officials of
being the culprits.
Officials either r*ped women and girls or lured them into s*x in exchange for financial and material benefits, the report said.
“It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting
much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands
of Boko Haram,” said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them,” she had added.
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said in a statement
signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, that a
special police panel will investigate.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris MPN mni,
has set up a Special dedicated Investigation Team to immediately
commence thorough Investigation into all cases of alleged sexual abuses,
exploitation, harassments, gender based violence and professional
misconduct on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in some of
North-eastern States contained in a report published by the Human Right
Watch against Camp officials, vigilante groups, Soldiers and Policemen
among others,” the statement said.
It called on the rights group to help the investigation team by
providing credible information that can serve as evidence for the
alleged abuses.
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