Metro
Police Invite Activist Who Accused Officers of Raping Sex Workers, Say She Won’t be Detained
The Police in Abuja have invited a woman for questioning after she accused officers of raping suspected commercial sex workers with sachet water nylons.
Dorothy Njemanze, an Abuja-based women’s rights activist, raised the allegation on social media on Thursday. It came as police and social development authorities intensified their crackdown on alleged sex workers across the federal capital.
Abuja Police Commissioner Bala Ciroma told PREMIUM TIMES the activist was only asked to turn up at the FCT police headquarters to assist detectives with information about officers responsible for the gruesome abuses.
“The allegations are too grievous for our institution to ignore,” the police chief said. “We hope the woman will have useful information that will aid our investigation.”
Mrs Njemanze said she learnt from some of the women arrested and profiled as prostitutes that officers traded the women’s release for sex.
“We learnt that some of the women were raped with sachet water nylons because there were no condoms left,” Mrs Njemanze told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening.
The police invited her because she had put out a video and wrote posts on her social media handles alleging the incident earlier this week.
“I will be honouring the commissioner’s invitation on Thursday (today) morning,” she told PREMIUM TIMES. “We are partners in progress.”
Mr Ciroma said he looked forward to receiving Mrs Njemanze on Thursday, and she will not be detained no matter how the invitation turned out.
Out on a limb
Dozens of women have been arrested at night clubs in major parts of the city within the last two weeks. They were accused of “offences” ranging from prostitution to indecent dressing, despite social media outrage that some of the women might have been hanging out with male acquaintances or even alone.
At least 70 women were arrested in a joint raid by the police and Abuja social workers between April 29 and 29. The arrests were in addition to dozens of women who were taken into custody at Caramelo, a famous gentleman’s club in the posh Utako neighbourhood.
The Nigerian Constitution is silent on commercial sex activities, but there are subsidiary legislation in some local jurisdictions that prohibit such acts. After the purported invasion of Abuja by young women repeatedly made headlines in 2011, there were rumours that Ike Ekweremadu was sponsoring a bill to legalise the commercial sex work in the country. The Enugu senator, who became the deputy senate president in 2015, however, denied the reports at the time.
The police summarily arraigned some of the women at an improvised courtroom, but many were reportedly freed amidst unclear circumstances. Some of those convicted received up to six months’ imprisonment, while a few others were slammed with fines.
Even though the clubs were filled with both sexes, only women were arrested. This has elicited allegations of gender-based violence against women, which could render them even more vulnerable than they had been.
‘No vagina is safe in Abuja’
Mrs Njemanze said she had been gathering evidence about the alleged rape of women with sachet water nylons, but her personal experience sufficed to conclude that officers were capable of committing such acts.
“When I was arrested in 2012, my breast and buttocks were terribly fondled by some of the officers,” Mrs Njemanze said.
She made headlines that year after being arrested for alleged prostitution. She sued the Nigerian government at ECOWAS Court and won. The court determined that her rights were violated because she was arrested only because she was out at night.
“In most cases of prostitution, you will have a man and a woman,” Mrs Njemanze said. “If you arrest only the woman and profile her as a prostitute, then it becomes gender-based violence.”
She said only 10 of about 70 women who were arrested last week were arraigned before a mobile court near the Federal Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
“Police officers freed most of the women after they were given sex and money,” Mrs Njemanze said.
She said she will demand a review of the circumstances under which the most of the women were released without charges — including an interview of all the officers that took part in the arrests and some of the freed detainees.
‘Just plead guilty’
Mrs Njemanze said one of the major concerns she would raise with Mr Ciroma will be about officers’ “unethical practice” of ensnaring suspected prostitutes into admitting their guilt.
“Whenever they arrest women at night clubs, be they strippers or commercial sex workers or whatever, they usually ask them to just plead guilty in their kangaroo court so they could be fined for a small amount rather than sent to jail,” she said.
The officers use the tactics to avoid the responsibility of proving that the women were actually prostitutes as required in criminal proceedings. Only a few of victims of discriminatory police arrests know their fundamental rights as Nigerian citizens, she added.
“I respect the commissioner because he has been proactive against sexual and gender-based violence,” Mrs Njemanze said. “But the officers have failed to emulate his professionalism.”
Premium Times
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that two more bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday.
Initial reports said three had been recovered even though the police said all eight passengers and crew members were feared dead.
However, two more bodies have been recovered from the crash, leaving three still unaccounted for.
On Friday, the Rivers State Police Command had announced that all eight occupants of an Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday were feared dead.
Metro
World Food Day: Capacious Farms, Adron Homes Host JSS Arts & Essay Contest, Reward Top Five Schools
In celebration of World Food Day, Capacious Farms & Foods Ltd, on Tuesday, hosted the 2024 Junior Secondary School (JSS) Arts & Essay Contest Award Ceremony, with sponsorship from Adron Homes & Properties.
The event, which took place at the Adron Training School in Shimawa, aimed at engaging young minds in agriculture, creative arts and essay writing, in other to raise awareness about food security and sustainability.
The competition witnessed the participation of 40 schools from across the nation, each submitting entries on the future of agriculture and its role in combating food insecurity.
After a rigorous judging process, five schools emerged as winners, with students from these schools receiving generous cash prizes, sponsored by the foremost real estate company in Nigeria, Adron Homes & Properties.
The Chief Operating Officer of Capacious Farms & Foods, Chi Tola Roberts, emphasized the significance of the event in her address.
“Commemorating World Food Day through this contest highlights the critical role agriculture plays in our society. Our goal is to spark an early interest in agriculture and equip students with the knowledge and motivation to pursue careers in the sector,” she stated.
Roberts also announced that the contest would become an annual event, with promises of broader outreach, and increased opportunities for students.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, spoke passionately about Nigeria’s agricultural history and the importance of returning to its roots.
“Our nation was built on agriculture. Cocoa House, one of Nigeria’s landmarks, was funded through proceeds from cocoa farming. By supporting initiatives like this, we aim to inspire the next generation to see agriculture not only as our past, but as our future,” he said.
Emmanuelking reiterated Adron’s commitment to supporting youth engagement in agriculture, particularly through sponsorships like those awarded at this event.
Prof. Adesegun, Chairman of the Babcock University Schools Management Board, who delivered a keynote speech on Global Food Crisis and the Importance of Youth Involvement, noted as follows: “We are facing a global challenge in food security, and the youth must be at the forefront of finding solutions. This competition is a step in the right direction, as it encourages students to think critically about the future of food and agriculture.”
The event provided a platform for young students to showcase their artistic and literary talents, exploring themes that align with the mission of World Food Day: ending hunger and ensuring food security for all. The five winning schools were awarded cash prizes, and their students were celebrated for their exceptional creative and analytical contributions.
Capacious Farms & Foods Ltd and Adron Homes & Properties are committed to making this competition an annual event, fostering a deeper connection between Nigeria’s youth and the agricultural sector.
In a gesture that underscores his unwavering commitment to promoting and preserving the rich Yoruba culture and traditions, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, accompanied by the Managing Director of Adron Group, Mrs Adenike Ajobo and some other company’s management team, paid a royal visit to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi Eniitan, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in celebration of the monarch’s 50th birthday.
The visit took place at the Ooni’s historic palace in Ile-Ife, a city revered as the cradle of Yoruba civilization. Aare Emmanuelking, a staunch advocate for cultural heritage, expressed his deep admiration for the Ooni’s pivotal role in uniting and uplifting the Yoruba people. This significant visit exemplifies the strong relationship between Adron Group and traditional rulers across the country, and it reflects the company’s commitment to community development, as well as the preservation of Nigeria’s diverse cultural values.
Speaking at the event, Aare Emmanuelking emphasized the importance of maintaining and promoting the customs and traditions that define the Yoruba people, while fostering relationships with traditional rulers and the broader community. He noted that these relationships are essential not only for cultural preservation but also for supporting sustainable development that benefits local communities and strengthens national unity.
“A nation’s growth is deeply tied to its cultural roots. The Yoruba culture, and indeed all Nigerian traditions, form the bedrock of our values and our identity. We at Adron Homes are proud to be associated with these values and are committed to ensuring that they are passed down to future generations,” Aare Emmanuelking stated during the visit.
In closing, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking offered his heartfelt prayers to the Ooni of Ife, saying: “May His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi Eniitan, continue to reign in wisdom, peace, and prosperity. As the custodian of our cherished traditions and a beacon of hope for our people, we pray for long life, good health, and enduring success for His Majesty. Long live the King, long live the Ooni of Ife.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, expressed his gratitude for the visit and lauded Adron Group’s efforts in supporting traditional institutions and fostering development. The Ooni’s 50th birthday celebrations have drawn dignitaries and well-wishers from across the country, all paying tribute to his reign and visionary leadership.
Adron Homes and Properties, a leading real estate company, remains committed to its mission of making affordable housing accessible to all Nigerians. Under Aare Emmanuelking’s leadership, the company continues to engage with traditional rulers, recognizing their vital role in community cohesion and the preservation of cultural identity.
