A woman has reported an alleged rape incident involving a man identified as Mr Femi at the Area M Police Command, Idimu, Lagos, calling on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the case is promptly charged to court or transferred to the appropriate gender-based violence unit.
According to the survivor’s account, she travelled from Ebonyi State to Lagos on December 31, 2025, intending to surprise her sister. On arrival, she was informed that her sister had travelled to Osun State for the New Year holidays and was advised to stay temporarily with a relative in Isheri.
The complainant said she attended a crossover church service that night and was returning home around 1:45 a.m. when she met a fellow church member, identified as Mr Femi. She alleged that he warned her it was unsafe to remain in the church premises overnight and offered to take her to a hotel for safety.
She claimed that after checking into a hotel in the Oduero area, the man persuaded her to consume alcohol despite her refusal. She later retired to the room alone and fell asleep.
The survivor alleged that she later woke up to find the man touching her and questioned how he gained access to the room.
She further alleged that when she resisted and screamed, the suspect slapped her, pushed her against a wardrobe, causing her to hit her head and become weak, before raping her without consent.
The complainant said she managed to escape after the suspect went into the bathroom, fleeing the hotel in fear. She later received calls from the suspect, during which he allegedly apologised and asked her to “forget about what happened” and begin a relationship with him.
After experiencing physical discomfort, she informed her sister, who advised her to report the matter to the police.
The case was formally reported at Area M Command, Idimu, on January 5, 2026. The survivor said medical treatment and a medical report have since been obtained and submitted to the Crack Squad unit of the command.
However, the complainant accused an investigating officer, identified as Inspector Raphael Fagbo, of allegedly failing to charge the case to court or transfer it to the Gender Unit at Ikeja.
She expressed concern over what she described as delays and lack of action, questioning the officer’s handling of the case and calling for urgent intervention by the Area M Area Commander.
The survivor stressed that rape is a criminal offence under Lagos State law, noting that sexual intercourse without consent or consent obtained through force constitutes rape and is a state offence.
She also criticised what she described as inadequate handling of sensitive gender-based violence cases, saying such conduct undermines public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
Advocacy group ZEEC Foundation, using the hashtag #SayNoToRape, joined the call for justice, urging police authorities to ensure the case is either charged to court without further delay or transferred to the appropriate Gender Unit for prosecution.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
