Juliana Francis
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Igando Police Station, Alimosho, Lagos State, has been urged by members of the Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN) to handle the case, where a wife accused her husband, Destiny, of always flogging her with a belt with the seriousness it deserves.
According to the wife, her husband, Destiny used to beat her at the slightest provocation, using a belt and used to be abusive toward their children.
The couple has two children, ages six and four.
Destiny, who is further accused of not providing for his family was also said to be in the habit of beating his children.
According to reports tabled before ACVPN, the wife is an actress on a monthly salary.
The mandated reporter, who brought the matter to the attention of the ACVPN, said: “The wife pays the house rent but will always receive beatings as if she’s a child from her husband.
“The one that broke the camel’s back happened on the 5th of April 2023. The couple had a misunderstanding. The husband beats her again and pushed her out of the house. He also threw all her things out. He took away the four years old child.
“We called the Advocate member in our area; she asked us to report at Igando Police Station. When we got there, the husband was called, but he insulted the officer and refused to honour the Police invitation.
“She reported to the landlord of the house who also invited the two of them to his house, but the husband came without the child. We quickly informed the officer in charge of the case, and he ordered that he should be arrested last night, so he can call for the baby.
“To our greatest surprise, the DPO asked them to release him. He said my sister should get out! The case is a welfare case. He has been sending threatening messages to his wife since late at night.”
The wife has produced messages she had been receiving from the husband.
Some of the messages read: “You will never see that boy again. Just move on with your life and forget about him. I’m gone already. And nothing can stop me. Watch and see, the next is to come and carry you’ll to write an undertaking for my life. I will be coming to the station, and I will not come with him. Watch and see. I rather die or go to jail than give you my son. You will only hear his voice but never see him.”
Blessing Aderemi of ACVPN said: “It has become obvious that the DPO of Igando Police Division is not groomed in how to handle domestic violence cases. This is the second case he has mismanaged this week, thereby putting the lives of women and children at risk of continuous abuse.
“On the 5th of April 2023, a pregnant woman that’s overdue, 11 months old pregnancy, was beaten by her husband with a wood. The case was referred to Igando division. The DPO told them to go home and that it was a family case. At this moment, the pregnant woman is in a church, seeking refuge.
“My question is? Why does Igando Police Division have Family Support Unit, and cases can not be resolved? Or better to refer to Gender for proper mediation.
“Women and Children from this axis will continue to suffer greatly from perpetrators because of unprofessionalism.
“The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu, should please investigate the mismanagement of cases at Igando division. A four years old boy’s life is involved. At this point, the DPO doesn’t care about the well-being of the child. Allowing the perpetrator to leave yesterday, has now made it difficult to rescue the child. The woman is losing her sanity. The DPO should provide the perpetrator.”
The co-founder of ACVPN, Mr Ebenezer Omejalile, said: “It’s really a shame that the Igando DPO failed to realise that the so much talked about Police Reform Documents was handed over to the IGP some few days ago by UN and its International partners of which Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs are all signatories to this documents and the IGP promised to ensure all that were listed in the documents will be duly implemented.
“The Igando DPO ought to know that the police reform documents were duly funded by the UN and other international partners across the globe.
“The Igando DPO knows better that he’s truncating not only local cases but international partners’ cases, he should be ready to bear the consequences of putting his offices in harm’s way.”
