The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, has said that the four police officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad alleged to have sexually harassed a lady, Kachi Anifela Zion, along Pipeline Area in Ilorin had been detained.
Zion had through her Instagram page -@69bars, alleged that some SARS officers accosted her at ‘Pipeline Area’ in Ilorin at the weekend, accused her of prostitution and searched her. She specifically accused one of the officers of inserting his fingers into her private parts.
Ado, who responded through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ilorin on Tuesday said he was sad at the allegation.
Okasanmi confirmed that he had been in contact with the spokesperson of the Zone 2 Police Command, Dolapo Badmus.
The Kwara PPRO said after he got information of the allegation through the social media, the CP directed that Zion should be invited to the command to shed more light on her allegation.
He stated that the lady honoured the invitation on Tuesday morning and had made useful statement.
Okasanmi said further that the four SARS officers were also invited for interrogation. He stated that they denied involvement in the allegation, adding that they had been detained.
According to him, regardless of their denial, the command was still investigating them and would punish them according to the law if they were guilty. However, he said they would be released if they were innocent.
Ajayi said,“I got in contact with the lady (Zion) so I invited her to the office and my CP was very unhappy about the incident if it was proved to be true. The lady was with us this morning. We invited the SARS that were operating on the road. The team denied the allegation
but we are investigating the matter. The lady was well satisfied with the action we have taken so far.
“We will get to the root of the matter. If actually the police officers who the allegation was levelled against committed the offence, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“We are looking into it and we are investigating it. All the members of the team (SARS), though they denied the allegation, we are still investigating them.
“The four SARS officers on duty that the lady alleged to have harassed her sexually are now in detention.
“Though they denied any involvement, we are investigating. The lady was satisfied with the action we have taken so far. If at the end of the day, they are discovered not to have committed the offence, they will be set free.”