Pauline Onyibe 
The Ijaw Youth Congress Central Zone has condemned the alleged rape of a young girl by police personnel in Yenagoa.
The seventeen years old girl was said to be working at a popular supermarket in the state where the said police officer also working there allegedly had carnal knowledge of her
A Statement signed at the weekend by the Chairman, Comrade Perez Iniefie stated that the matter is however under investigation.
He stated that the Mobile Police Division (MOPOL 16) is in charge of the investigation adding that the Police Personnel has been arrested.
According to the statement “The family followed up the case all legally to secure the suspect’s arrest and support their daughter to recovery but was shocked to discover that the management had allegedly hidden the officer responsible for the crime.”
The statement continued: “This is unacceptable. The action of this police officer led to the temporary closure of the facility, a move aimed at easing tensions within the Opolo community.
“The facility(Market Square) has resumed operations as the mobile police division(Morpol 16) has provided and arrested the said officer for further investigation.”
“The IYC wants to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the lives and rights of all Ijaw people. The leadership of the Central Zone is actively ensuring that this issue is followed through the appropriate legal channels, and we urge for calm and patience as justice is pursued.”
On her part, the Founder of the Do Foundation, Barr. Dise Goody Harry noted that though a crime has been allegedly committed, ” we expect all parties concerned to allow for proper investigation on the allegations made against the police officer.”
“We are also calling on the management of Market Square to give immediate financial and medical support to the young girl who is also their staff . This young girl also needs psycho socio support too.”
“This act, if proven to be true, is one that we condemn completely and we are using this opportunity to call on the Bayelsa State Police Command to thoroughly investigate this case and immediately prosecute the said police officer if he is found guilty.”
“As a people, as a state, we should continue to protect our girls from sexual abuse.It is sad that this is happening at a time when we just celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child.”
However, attempts to get information from the Zone 16 Police Command about the matter by pressmen hit a brick wall as the Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Gunn. Ewhoborwo Emomena alleged he was not aware of the incident and does not have any brief on it.
He was said to have responded: “When I received a similar call on the incident and purported arrest, I checked from office to office and could not find the case.”
Also, a check at the State Police Command saw them directing the journalists back to the Zone 16 Police Command.
