RAPE EPIDEMIC? Police Arrest Another Lagos DPO For Rape

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Oladipo Afolayan, for allegedly raping a woman in his office.

The development comes a few months after another Lagos DPO, Mr. Adekunle Awe, was arrested for allegedly raping a woman, Idowu Akinwunmi, in his office at the Onikan Police Division.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Afolayan, who is a Superintendent of Police, had only been recently posted to the Magodo Police Post when the incident allegedly occurred.

It was learnt that the woman he allegedly raped was a suspect in an ongoing investigation.

It was gathered that following a report by the victim, Afolayan was arrested and brought before the Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti. Aderanti was said to have also reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr. Umar Manko.

The matter was transferred to the X Squad, a department at the state command which is in charge of investigating police crimes and misdemeanours.

When our correspondent visited the Magodo Police Post on Thursday, policemen on duty refused to comment on the matter.

It was, however, learnt that after taking his statement, the X Squad transferred the DPO and the case file to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed that the police were investigating the matter, adding that the senior police officer would be made to face the law if found culpable.

He said, “Yes, we are investigating an allegation like that. As a result of the sensitivity of the matter, it would be too soon to come to a conclusion. The stance of the Commissioner of Police is not to condone any act of indiscipline whether from the public or from our men.

“Therefore, when investigations are concluded, and the officer is found culpable, he will be made to dance to the tune of the law, and if it is found otherwise, he will be cleared. The press will be invited and briefed once investigations are concluded.”