A pregnant woman known as Mrs. Vivian Charles has alleged that she was physically assaulted by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Elelewon Police Division, in Obio/Akpor Local Council, while she was at the station to bail her relative.
The lady told journalists that she went to the station in the company of her husband on Monday to enquire why her uncle was arrested last week Friday when the incident occurred.
She said on getting to the station to at least interface with her uncle and the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, they were informed that the DPO requested to see parties in the case in his office.
“On getting to the DPO’s office, I did not know what the complainant had told the DPO earlier as he started shouting at me.
“While the DPO was shouting, I tried to put the record straight only for the DPO to rise from his seat and slap me in the presence of my husband,” she added.
The pregnant woman said she was tempted to retaliate, but her husband held her, adding that her uncle who had issues with the complainant was later given bail of a huge sum of money.
The lady, however, called on International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, human rights, and Civil society organisations to come to her aid and ensure that justice was done on the matter, adding that the alleged action of the DPO does not befit his position as a senior police official and bear the good image of the Force.
Contacted, the spokesperson for Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the DPO denied assaulting or slapping anybody, but assured to get to the root of the matter.
