The lady,
Idowu Akinwunmi, who accused the former Divisional Police Officer(DPO), in
charge of Onikan Police Station, of raping her while she was suspect under his
custody, yesterday, revealed in a tearful voice that since the incident, she
could no longer take a simple through her street.
Speaking with
our correspondent yesterday, Akinwunmi who looked drawn and dejected said: “I’m
confused. I don’t understand what is going on anymore. I’m very popular in my
street and now anytime I go out, people will stop me on the street and start
asking me questions about the incident. I’m feeling ashamed.”
Asked if she
was going to call it quit because of the pressure she was receiving from people
on her street, Akinwunmi kept mute.
She however
said that since the incident, she had lost her job and life had become pretty
tough.
She added: “I’m
presently searching frantically for a job. I’m a cook. That was my job at the
bar, where I was sacked. I cook continental dishes.”
Meanwhile,
yesterday, for reasons yet unknown, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG),
Mr. Mamma Tsafe, ordered the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Umar
Manko, to transfer the case to his domain at Zone II, Onikan, Lagos State.
This order
came just as the DPO was asking to be granted bail.
The dilemma Akinwunmi
is presently experiencing in her area was due to nongovernmental organisations,
which broke the story, using her full name, thus revealing her identity.
It will be
recalled that the New Telegraph, which broke the story, only used her surname.
According to End Sexual Violence organisation, “Although
rape and sexual assault occur at an alarming rate in our society, the vast
majority of these crimes remain unreported. Victims remain silent because they
fear being subjected to the intense public scrutiny and blame that often follow
being named in the media. Our culture continues to condemn the victim for rape
and, as a result, an extraordinary amount of shame and silence follow the
crime. Publicizing the name of a rape complainant under these conditions only
deters more victims from coming forward.”
No comments:
Post a Comment