Nigerian Police Defend Dismissal of Inspector Who Reported Rape, Remain Silent on Missing Daughter

The Nigeria Police Force has justified the dismissal of former Inspector Edith Uduma, who reported an alleged rape involving a male colleague, claiming her removal followed due process.

In a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer Adejobi Muyiwa on Wednesday, the police emphasized that Edith was dismissed for “gross misconduct and complicity” related to the case involving Sergeant Abraham Uzuobo, who was accused of attempting to sexually assault a 17-year-old female suspect in October 2024.

The police stated that investigations conducted by the Edo State Command revealed that Sgt. Uzuobo removed the victim from her cell and attempted to assault her in an empty office. According to the statement, Uduma discovered the incident, recorded it, but failed to immediately report it to her superiors.

The police alleged that instead of filing a formal incident report, Uduma and her husband, also a police officer, attempted to extort N1 million from Uzuobo to conceal the matter. After reportedly receiving N45,000, they allegedly demanded additional money but were refused, prompting them to report the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and release the footage on social media.

Sanctions and Allegations of Misconduct

The police report indicated that Uzuobo had been dismissed, is facing prosecution, and is currently in custody. Uduma was dismissed, and her husband was demoted to the rank of sergeant.

The statement accused Uduma of tarnishing the reputation of the Inspector-General of Police and the force by making claims of innocence following her dismissal.

“The dismissal was based on thorough investigations that found irrefutable evidence of her failure to follow protocol, concealment of an offender, and involvement in extortion,” the statement read.

Silence on Missing Daughter

While addressing the dismissal, the police failed to comment on the disappearance of Uduma’s 14-year-old daughter, Goodness Ibrahim, who has been missing for several days. Reports indicate that Goodness disappeared after leaving home to buy food, following alleged threats from the Auchi area commander.

Uduma has maintained her innocence, asserting that she is being targeted for refusing to suppress the rape case at the behest of her DPO. Advocacy groups, including the Take-It-Back Movement, have petitioned the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General’s Office, and the National Human Rights Commission to review her case and challenge what they describe as her unfair dismissal.