Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has revealed that 717 rape incidents were recorded in Nigeria between January and May, 2020.
Adamu stated this on Monday after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He was in the company of the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
While speaking with reporters, he highlighted efforts being made by the Federal Government to tackle sexual and gender-based violence, especially rape across the country.
Adamu said about 799 suspects have been arrested, 631 cases have been successfully investigated and charged to court, while 52 cases are under investigation.
The police boss, who described rape and defilement as ‘wicked and serious offences’, stressed that the government has more steps against the act due to the recent upsurge in sexual assault cases.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the police with necessary information in order to stop the menace, saying various stakeholders have now been collaborating with security agencies.
Adamu said;
It has come to the public knowledge now that because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we have surge in cases of rape and gender-based violence. These are cases that are now coming up but we want to let members of the public know that rape and gender based violence has been there.
According to him, the law enforcement agents have been dealing with these cases, in which the public is usually not aware of the actions taken by law enforcement agents.
The IGP added that;
The police and other security agencies and other non-governmental organisations have been collaborating, to see to it that these cases of rape and gender based violence are dealt with.
He stated that NGOs and CSOs that have the capacity to deal with this kind of offenses, have been cooperating with law enforcement agencies towards successful prosecution.
Adamu urged Nigerians to report any victim of sexual offenses, rape or gender based violence to law enforcement agents, stressing that;
This is because keeping it without reporting it will give room for the perpetrators to continue to commit the offenses. It is a very wicked offense, it is very serious offense, it is very wicked of an individual to engage in rape or defilement.
