Women groups have called for a review of the methodology used for the deployment of force personnel to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to avert assault, sexual abuse, and other inhumane treatment meted on them.
Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Founder, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) at a joint press conference on Friday in Abuja made the call over the alleged recent assault and human right abuse of Inspector Teju Moses by Prof. Zainab Abiola, a Legal Practitioner, and human rights activist.
Ezeilo decried the plights of security forces attached to VIPs, who are often abused physically, and psychologically and used in manners inconsistent with their line of official duty.
She described the incident as barbaric and inhumane, calling for a thorough investigation to establish the culpability of the suspects and prosecution.
“The fall out of the instant case calls to mind the need to review the legal and administrative parameters under which the force personnel, particularly the female gender amongst them are deployed to VIPs.
“It also underscores the need for psycho–socio assessment and validation to be carried out on these VIPs before police personnel will be attached to them.
“This is to ascertain whether the VIPs have the mental, psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing to accommodate and work with these police personnel,” she said.
Ezeilo also called for an urgent review of the working and posting conditions of the police service personnel, especially the female police officers attached to VIPs remain paramount in the circumstances.
On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Ikule, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Foundation said cases of abuse meted out on orderlies and special duty officers were recurring, calling for immediate action to forestall it.
“The police should not just look at this case alone, but seize the opportunity to look at other similar ones that have been reported and take action to stop such”. he said.
Also, Mrs. Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria commended the Inspector General of Police for acting promptly in responding to the right violations and arrest of the suspects.
Obi, however, called on the police to review the welfare and roles of the orderlies and officers assigned on special duties as well as other police officers to avert future occurrences.
“This will serve as a deterrent to all those abusing the rights of both male and female officers attached to them, that the eyes of the law are very active, and justice will be served,” she said.
She also advocated a panel conduct a survey or assessment on how officers assigned to private citizens were treated and ensure the Nigerian Police Force supports the development and implementation of a workplace policy to address GBV.
“The Nigerian Security Officers are toiling day and night to protect the citizenry and it is time to protect them too,” she said.
On her part, Ms. Chibuzo Nwosu, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja Branch, said the association cannot prosecute but would monitor the prosecution and ensure justice is served.
Also, Mrs. Moji Makanjola, Execute Director, International Society of Media and Public Health (ICSMPH) called for prosecution and justice to prevail in cases of abuse, irrespective of the highly placed position of the suspects.
Makanjola, said, “our health institutions were overburdened by such preventable cases.”
Recall that Abiola was alleged to have assaulted her police orderly, Insp Teju Moses on Tuesday at her residence in Abuja following her refusal to carry out menial and domestic chores at her residence.
The trending and viral audio clip available all over social media showed the police orderly bleeding profusely on her face.
It was later reported that the suspect has been arrested together with her housemaid, Rebecca Enechido, while certain domestic servants and cohorts in the commission of the alleged unlawful act remain at large.
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