Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) has extolled the police led by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, for their measures to curtail the scourge of rape in the country.
The police has unveiled a new Operational Guidelines for the Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies on COVID-19 prevention enforcement duties, today, 8th June, 2020 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. This is part of measures to foster a more harmonious relationship between the Police and members of the public, deepen respect for the rights of citizens, provide a new set of policing tools for tackling emerging crimes such as domestic violence, rape, child molestation and other incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The IGP notes with concern, increase in reported cases of domestic violence, rape, defilement, cybercrimes etc linked with the COVID-19 restrictions. These unfortunate incidents have prompted the introduction of this Operational Guidelines which will help to adequately coordinate and reshape the conducts of personnel of the Force and other law enforcement agencies on the frontline of operations in the enforcement of the COVID-19 prevention orders. It will also serve as a standard code of conduct for Police officers in similar operations in the future.
Consequently, the IGP has also ordered the strengthening of the Gender-Desk Units and the Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWCs) across the country and the deployment of investigative assets to deal with gender related offences. In addition, the Cybercrime Unit of the Force has also been strengthened to deal with cybercrimes connected with the COVID-19 pandemic.
