The police command in Osun State has arrested two policemen for assaulting a woman at Odo Ori market, Iwo, Osun State.
The officers identified as Inspector Ikuesan Taiwo with AP NO 251724 and PC Abass Ibrahim with Force No. 509634, were caught on a video assaulting the woman. The state government said they went overboard in the discharge of their duties.
According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, the two officers had been detained and facing orderly room trial.
The statement reads: “This is a democracy, and the State of Osun is a decent society where men in or out of uniform should not and cannot whimsically flog women – even men. We note that police authorities have condemned the unwarranted actions of these men. The State Government likewise condemns the unacceptable conduct of these policemen.
“The culprits are currently being detained and their orderly room trial has since commenced. The full weight of the law will be deployed to address this illegal, unfortunate behaviour of these law enforcers.”
Following the development, the state government has issued a warning that no one is licensed under the law to harass, assault, batter or visit violence on any citizen, men and women.
“It is especially reprehensible when the victim is a helpless lady who is not known to have offended the law in any way,” the government said.
The state government in the statement expressed its gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, IGP M. A. Adamu, and the Commissioner of Police in Osun, CP Johnson Kokumo, for the prompt response in redressing the assault as shown in the viral video.
The state government said it also appreciated all law enforcement agencies for their cooperation with the government during the period of the lockdown.
It expressed its wish to encourage officers and men of the agencies to enforce the lockdown conscientiously and within the ambience of the law.
“We owe our people the duty of care to save them from COVID-19 and other dangers without assaulting their rights to personal liberty,” the government said.
