Security experts and human right lawyers in Lagos on Thursday urged police stations to create a special desk for rape and domestic violence related cases.
This, according to the experts, will make members of the public have more confidence in the police and also fast track any investigation needed to prosecute offenders.
Mr Alfred Lawani, a legal practitioner told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that most rape and domestic violence cases are not reported because of stigma and lack of confidence in the security agents.
“This stigma starts from how you are being treated by the first responders which is the police. It is how these first responders treat victims that determine if other victims would speak out.
“One of the steps that I will advise the police to take is open a special desk for rape and domestic violence at all police stations. This should be done in such a way that the victims do not give statements in the same room with other complainants or suspects,” he said.
Mr Saheed Ajibade, a human right lawyer, said victims of rape and domestic violence deserves more than diligent investigation from the police, adding that their state of mind should also be put into consideration.
“Apart from creating a special desk at every police station to handle cases of rape and domestic violence, the police officers assigned to this desk must also be trained in handling cases that has to do with a person’s psychological state.
“Yes, everyone has the right to justice but it is also important that they are treated like they deserve it and not the other way round,” he said.
Mr Gbenga Oseni, a security expert, also commended the police for its effort in handling rape and domestic violence related cases so far, adding that the police can do more aside creating a special desk for such cases.
Oseni said that the police must first of all rid the people of the mentality that a visit to the police station makes one a criminal or related to a criminal.
“The police needs to establish a rapport with the people in such a way that they come in for counseling. By doing this, the people gain their confidence and report promptly any crime committed in the community,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana however told NAN that the Lagos State Police Command has units handling rape and domestic violence related cases created at 12 police stations around the State.
He added that it is a gradual process as the command was working towards setting up same in every police station in Lagos.
“They are not just desks but a unit manned with qualified personnel to handle such special cases which are gender based violence and domestic violence.
“We started with one and now we have 12. These 12 units are spread in such a way that you can access them from whatever part of Lagos you reside.
“We also have the overall unit at the Command headquarters, Ikeja, which supervises all other units and also takes over cases which they may not be able to handle,” he said. (NAN)
