By Olamide Ayoade
A police officer stationed at Abobi Police Station, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, is under investigation after being accused of sexually harassing a 20-year-old female graduate, Precious Owolabi, inside a police van.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on Monday, February 5, 2024, around 7pm, involved the officer allegedly harassing Owolabi inside a police van after stopping her motorcycle for wearing camouflage knickers.
Owolabi, a graduate of Cooperative and Rural Development from Olabisi Onabanjo University, recounted her experience during an exclusive interview with The Punch correspondent. She claimed that the officer approached her after stopping her motorcycle and forced her into their patrol van, where he allegedly harassed her sexually. Owolabi stated that the officer in question was recognized as one of those attached to the station.
Owolabi stated, “On Monday night, I was on a bike going home when the policemen told me to come down from the bike because I was putting on camouflaged shorts. The incident happened around Olabisi Onabanjo Mini Campus in Ago-Iwoye."
She explained that after being stopped by the police, she was coerced into their van where the officer allegedly demanded sexual favors from her. She resisted, informing him that she was a virgin, but was met with physical assault. The officer purportedly slapped her and threatened her with further harm if she did not comply with his demands. Owolabi managed to record parts of the incident on her phone.
She continued, “The policemen walked to where the bike stopped and they were telling me, ‘why are you putting on this? You dey intimidate us abi?’ I kept on apologizing and saying I wasn’t intimidating them."
“They dragged me to the other side of the road and told me to enter their van, and a man who was the boss there told me to hand over my phone," Owolabi added. "I then entered the van, and he left. He came back about 10 to 15 minutes later and asked for my name and my level."
Owolabi further explained the officer's inappropriate advances, stating, “He then said he would love to have sex with me and pay me well the next morning, but I respectfully told him that I couldn’t have sex with him, and then he slapped me on my right cheek."
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, assured that the command has initiated an investigation into the matter. She confirmed that the accused officer, along with his colleagues, has been summoned for questioning.
Odutola emphasized, “We are investigating the matter. We have contacted the Abobi Police Station DPO, and the officer has been invited alongside others that were with him. We’re expecting them soon. The CP is against assault on women and children, and I can assure you that we are going to take it up.”
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