Sexual harassment against Imo DPO false — Police

The Imo State Police Command has described as false the allegation of sexual harassment and intimidation levelled against its personnel.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, informed that the allegation of assault levelled against the DPO of New Owerri Station by a certain Chief Ogumba Onyeaghala, who claimed to be a member of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, is false and should be disregarded by the public.

The police spokesperson stated that the Commissioner of Police, on hearing the news published on a popular online media platform, set up a committee to investigate the allegation.

“After conducting a thorough investigation, the Command wishes to inform the general public that the allegations levelled against the DPO as contained in the petition are unfounded, malicious, and mischievous.

“To begin with, the said Chief Ogumba Onyeagahala is not a member of PCRC, New Owerri Division, as he alleged in the petition. His address and phone numbers on the petition are fake. Hence, all efforts to reach out to him to substantiate his allegations proved abortive,” he stated.

Okoye further stated that the PCRC New Owerri has written a disclaimer to the Commissioner of Police, distancing itself from the purported allegations against the DPO, noting that it had on several occasions commended the DPO for his remarkable leadership style and proactive efforts in safeguarding the lives and properties of the residents of New Owerri as it remains one of the safest areas in the state.

ASP Okoye hinted that officers whose names appeared on the petition and other principal officers serving at New Owerri Division have been interviewed separately and they unequivocally stated that

the contents of the petition are entirely false.

He faulted the online media that carried the story for not seeking the reaction of the command before going public without considering the negative effect of such publication on the image of the DPO and the entire police force.

“It is crucial to state that contrary to the allegations made by the Sahara Reporters in the publication, the Police Public Relations Officer was never contacted to get the Command’s reaction on the said issue before publishing a very sensational report that borders on the conduct and reputation of the DPO. Without any ambivalence, the Command views the publications as a deliberate and concerted attempt by mischief makers to dampen the reputation and morale of the Divisional Police Officers as well as the already established confidence he has built in the minds of the residents of New Owerri. Efforts are in progress to apprehend the originator and purveyors of the misleading publication,” he further stated.

He said that no amount of distraction can dissuade the command from discharging its duties for the overall safety of the state.

“Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma reaffirms the Command’s unalloyed dedication to discharging its constitutional mandates while ensuring that its personnel are protected from any form of sexual harassment and gender discrimination,” he concluded.