The Police in Rivers State have arrested an Inspector and three other operatives accused of raping a 23-year-old widow after they arrested her for not putting on a nose mask in Port-Harcourt.
The accused, Inspector Peter Ibah and three others, are said to be undergoing investigation by the detectives of the Rivers State Command over the allegation.
The accused Inspector was interviewed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, in the presence of his accuser and witnessed by journalists.
Addressing Journalists later, the spokesperson ,SP Omoni said the men are serving at MOPOL 56 at Saakpenwaa not Saakpenwaa Police Station as insinuated.
He disclosed that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Mukan, had ordered that the case file be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation after which the outcome of the investigation would be made public.
Omoni appealed to members of the Public to remain calm as justice would not only be served in the matter, but manifestly done in the matter pointing out that the Officers would be detained till the investigations were concluded, just as he assured that the Command would not shield the officer if found culpable.
Meanwhile, a human rights advocate, Prince Wiro, has commended the Police Command in the State for quickly identifying the officers who had an encounter with the widow and inviting them for questioning.
Mr. Wiro called on the Police to ensure that justice was served to all parties in the matter.
The widow claimed that the police officer arrested her for not wearing face mask on her way to Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area from Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, alleging that Ibah diverted her to a guest house where he raped her till day break instead of taking her to the Police Station as he threatened and as required by law.
