Nigeria: Police officer rapes woman for not wearing facemask

The Rivers State Police are on the heels of a police officer who allegedly raped a 23-year-old lady arrested for not wearing a face mask.

The lady was reportedly traveling from Bori to Eleme when their vehicle was stopped by the police at a checkpoint.

She was directed to alight and delayed till evening because she didn’t wear a nose mask.

In a complaint filed with the police, the alleged victim accused an Inspector of taking her to a guest house at gunpoint where he raped her till daybreak.

According to a text message she sent to a radio station based in Rivers State, the officer also prevented her from communicating with anyone.

The text message from the lady sent before the alleged rape reads: “Dear, I am dying here. I have been taken to a guesthouse just because of the face mask of N100.

I can’t believe this is happening to me. He wants to sleep with me. I am dying. He didn’t let me answer any call. He threatened to seize my phone.”

Human rights defender, Prince Wiro has condemned the actions of the Police.

He has also charged the Police Command in Rivers State to investigate and prosecute its personnel accused of raping a woman for breach of COVID-19 protocol.

“There is no justification for the punishment of rape to be meted out to a woman because she flouted a state order on the use of nose masks. I expect the police to take this matter seriously.” he said.