Women Arise for Change Initiative, a civil society group, yesterday took to the streets to protest against an alleged illegal detention of a nursing mother, and her nine months old son by the Zone 11 of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The protest, which was led by president of Women Arise and winner of American government’s award of International Woman of Courage, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, had over 200 women and men defy the scorching sun to express their displeasure over the illegal detention of Mrs. Rofiat Oladepo and her son, a minor. They were arrested and kept in custody at the Zone 11 headquarters in Osogbo in lieu of her husband.

The organization described the action of the police as a violation of the victims’ universally recognized fundamental human rights and the law of the land. While being received by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone, AIG Leye Oyebade, Okei-Odumakin said: “We are pained and disappointed that the Nigeria Police held in custody a nursing mother and her baby, in lieu of her husband.

“Not only were they arrested and detained by proxy, they were also detained beyond the constitutionally sanctioned period. It is most nauseating to learn that Mrs. Oladepo and her baby who were arrested on April 24, 2019 at Dural Toaheed, Oke Anu area of Ede and taken to Zone 11, Gbogan road, Osogbo, were kept in inhuman conditions, only to be released later and given the sum of N500 as their transport fare back to Ede.”

While responding, AIG Oyebade appealed to the protesters to please stay further action as he would carry out an immediate investigation into the matter and ensure that justice is done forthwith. “One of the hallmarks of our ethics is policing with the fear of God aside the general rule of policing with integrity. This matter will be given the attention it deserves,” he said.

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