Ebun Francis
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday informed newsmen in Abuja that three soldiers, two policemen and a prison official have been arrested for their part in the alleged rape, abuse and sexual exploitation of internally displaced persons in the North East. Also arrested with the soldiers and policemen were one prison official, a member of staff, Borno Ministry of Agriculture and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Borno State.
It would be recalled that a Non-Governmental Organisation, Human Rights Watch, had last month in its report accused camp officials, vigilance groups, soldiers and policemen of engaging in sexual harassment of women and teenagers in IDP camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, a report that generated widespread condemnation from Nigerians.
President Muhammadu Buhari, shocked by the contents of the report, directed the Inspector General of police and the state governments to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged incidents and ensure that the culprits were identified and adequately punished.