It goes with little argument that the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, is one of the most graphic reflections of our largely morally decadent society. Its current handlers also need to do more to re-establish it as a serious, matured agency of law enforcement and pursuit of justice both for its personnel and members of the public at large.

A currently trending story of malfeasances show just how bad things are over there. According to the story confirmed by Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, a 17-year-old girl who was in a police cell was removed by a police officer named Abraham Uzuobo, a sergeant, to his office and forcefully taken carnal knowledge of, another word for “rape.”

He was reportedly caught in the devilish act by the Charge Room Officer on duty, Edith Uduma, an Inspector who recorded the act on video. Adejobi, however, claimed that Inspector Edith Uduma, rather than duly documenting and reporting the matter to her Divisional Police Officer, DPO, colluded with her spouse, named Ibrahim Mohammed, also a police Inspector, to demand N1 million from Uzuobo, failing which he would be exposed.

According to Adejobi, Uzuobo had already paid N45,000, but later called the couple’s bluff when they returned to ask for the N1m. Inspector Edith Uduma was dismissed by the Police authorities because she had allegedly involved herself in the crime of blackmail. Adejobi also claimed that others involved in the criminal saga had been “sanctioned.”

The video of Abraham Uzuobo’s alleged defilement of the minor in police custody has been trending on the web. Inspector Edith Uduma has also been crying foul. She claims she was wrongfully dismissed, as the authorities refused to hear her own side of the story. She also threatened to kill herself and her children in protest against the “injustice” meted against her.

We would like the Police authorities to explain to the public exactly what they did with Uzuobo, the police officer who defiled that defenceless young girl within the offices of the Police. For him to summon the temerity to commit that crime within the house of law enforcement means he might have done the same to many other detained suspects. If Inspector Edith Uduma had not recorded and exposed this episode, Sergeant Uzuobo would have gone free.

The mere dismissal of these officers by the Police authorities is not satisfactory. They should all be put on trial, and let the law take its course. That raped girl deserves justice. A proper trial will also give Inspector Edith Uduma the opportunity to tell her story in a proper judicial setting.

The Police should also take note of her threat to commit suicide and kill her children. Such threats should be treated as emergencies. (Vanguard Editorial)