- IGP sets up Special Investigation Panel
The police have launched an investigation into the recent allegations of sexual harassment of girls and women at the Internally Displaced Persons Camps in the North East by some officials.
The commencement of the probe followed an order issued on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the affected state governors to commence immediate investigations into the recent report by the Human Rights Watch alleging sexual harassments of girls and women at the camps of the IDPs by some officials and security operatives.
Consequently, the inspector general of police, has set up a dedicated Special Investigation Team to immediately commence thorough Investigation into “all cases of alleged sexual abuses, exploitation, harassment, 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 IGP, who, in a statement by the Force Headquarters in Abuja, expressed deep concern over the submissions in the report, directed the Special Investigation Panel to carry out a discreet and unbiased investigation into all the cases of abuse and misconduct alleged in the report.
The police boss also called on the officials of Human Right Watch to make available to the investigation team more facts that would assist it to conclude the inquiry into the alleged forty three (43) cases mentioned in the HRW report.
The IGP also directed commissioners of police in locations where IDP camps are situated, to beef up security and ensure adequate safety of all IDPs and ensure that perpetrators of any criminal act were decisively dealt with in accordance with the law.
Idris further urged all police officers and other personnel deployed to the IDP camps to strictly adhere to the rules of engagement.
“The Nigeria Police Force assures all Nigerians and the International community that the Force will not condone any act that violate the human dignity of the IDPs by individuals or group of persons in the IDP camps or anywhere in the country,” the statement further said.
