Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Suleman Abba has assured women in the state of police readiness in the fight to eradicate violence against women.
Mr. Abba gave the assurance Wednesday, when the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Manuela George- Izunwa, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pat Ogbonnaya and other women in the ministry paid him an advocacy visit in his office, as part of activities marking this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The new Police boss said tough time awaits culprits arrested for rape related offence in the state, as he will direct Divisional Police Officers in the state to treat all cases of rape and other domestic violence with utmost seriousness.
He noted that if cases of violence against women are not reported, they will continue to recur. He therefore advocated for sensitisation of women in the state to always report such cases to the police for necessary action.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Manuela George-Izunwa said the visit was to solicit for partnership between the ministry and the police in the fight to end violence against women in the state.
Mrs. George – Izunwa who pointed out that a number of women have lost their lives because of the non intervention of the police in cases of violence also enjoined the police to stop manhandling women.
She stressed the need for police to put a zero tolerance policy for violence against women as well as stop the practice of granting bail to rape suspects until such cases are fully investigated.
The Women Affairs Commissioner restated the ministry’s commitment to the reduction of violence against women to its bearest minimum through awareness campaign.
