Dismissed female inspector Cries Out Over Cover up, Threat To Life By Police Authority

Former police inspector at the Edo State Police Command, Edith Uduma, tells AJIBADE OMAPE about the circumstances surrounding her dismissal from the force after exposing a colleague who allegedly raped a female suspect in police custody

You exposed an alleged rape incident involving a colleague. What made you suspicious of your colleague?

This incident occurred on October 7, 2024. That night, officers from the station went on a raid, and upon their return, Uzuobo Abraham stated that he wanted to release some of his suspects. However, the female suspect’s case was not one of the cases he (Abraham) was handling, as she (the suspect) had been detained for about four days by another inspector.

I became suspicious after I gave my cell guard the key to help Abraham check on his suspect. I waited for them to return the key, but when it took so long, I called my cell guard to inquire about it. He informed me that Abraham still had the cell key.

I decided to look for Abraham along with the cell guard. We searched for Abraham in various offices. Reaching the Admin office, we saw that the padlock was hanging on the door. That was when I found Abraham inside the office, and I recorded him in the presence of my cell guard. I was not the only person on duty, and the recording was done openly, and I did not conceal anything.

So, I don’t know why the DPO and Area Commander are saying that my action is wrong. I raised the alarm because the girl was under my custody, and somebody now took this girl to have carnal knowledge of her. I have children as well. So, I know what it feels like. Now the police want to punish me because I brought police matters to the public.

It was alleged that the female suspect was drugged. How true is this claim?

I suspected that too because I was told by the girl that Abraham bought food for her which my cell guard Moses confirmed.

What was the reaction of your superiors and colleagues when you brought their attention to the situation?

When I reported the incident, the authorities at that time were trying to cover Abraham. However, an inspector mentioned that this wasn’t the first time Abraham had done something like this. He even expressed satisfaction that Abraham had finally been caught. The situation escalated because after I reported the incident to the authorities, they seemed to be trying to protect Abraham for reasons I don’t understand.

It was alleged that you conspired with your husband to extort N1m from your colleague to cover up the incident. How will you react to this claim?

There was nothing like that. This is why I say we should make this case open. I don’t want the police to investigate this matter again; we should bring this case to light on national television, and I need the people making the allegation to explain how I collected money. I remember when making statements, nothing like N1m was mentioned there.

Our Divisional Police Officer asked us to explain what happened, and the victim was also told to share her account. After hearing everything, the DPO said she didn’t want the matter to escalate and insisted it should be dropped immediately.

However, before that, I had already given the video to three people at the station; two boys and the station officer. Remember, I was not the only officer on duty, and immediately after the incident happened, I picked up my phone and called the DPO. It happened that her number was not going through. So, I now called the station officer.

The station officer arrived much later and asked me what had happened.  I explained everything to him. He mentioned that he had called the DPO, but her number was not going through, he would come back because he lived near the police station.

Around 5am, the next day, the station officer came and told me he had got the DPO’s phone number and that the DPO said I should not transfer the video to anybody yet and that I should not make any entry of the report at the station. I told the station officer that I would make an entry and that I had already given two people the video. He agreed and asked me to send the video to him and not to anyone else. I transferred the video to the station officer and when I was closing work in the morning, I made my entry.

When the DPO arrived, according to those on duty, she became upset as soon as she saw the entry I had made. She accused me of deliberately trying to cause problems, claiming I was aware she was due for retirement on November 15. I was called around 9am and told that the DPO wanted to see me. At that time, I was already at home.

Upon my arrival at the station, the DPO questioned my reason for making an entry despite her instructions, but I told her that as a police officer, I had to make an entry. She asked me to call Abraham because she heard that Abraham had offered me some money, but I refused. I told her I couldn’t collect money. People who know me are aware that my police work is different. I’m not just saying all these things because this happened. I won’t see any evil and cover it up. That is why I must get justice in this matter.

When I called Abraham, he insisted that I accept money to cover up the incident, but I refused. After much pleading, I sarcastically told him to bring N1m in cash to the station, knowing fully well that he didn’t have that kind of money. He responded by saying he was on his way.

I recorded the call, as directed by my DPO, with three other officers present. After the call, I forwarded the recording to the DPO. When Abraham came, the DPO asked what happened, and Abraham narrated it all, blaming his actions on the devil. The girl was also told to speak and she narrated how Abraham promised her N100,000.

What happened thereafter?

After that, the DPO said the matter should be closed and that she did not want anybody to hear of it again. Mind you, those two boys I sent the video to live beside our station and they are working at the area command office. My husband is also a policeman. I was on night duty when my husband brought something for me to eat as a wife, and God knows my husband did not even discuss anything.

My husband left that night immediately and did not even say a word because the matter was not his concern. The station officer informed me that the DPO wanted to see me. Upon arriving at the station, the DPO asked how the Area Commander learnt about the incident, despite instructing everyone involved to keep it quiet.

I proceeded with the DPO to see the area commander because Abraham was sent to work. Upon our arrival, the area commander asked for Sergeant Abraham, but the DPO noted that she sent him on patrol. This angered the area commander who immediately requested the presence of Abraham and the girl who was assaulted. At that time, the girl had been released to her family.

After narrating what happened, the area commander ordered that Abraham be detained and instructed his officers to take statements from me, Abraham, and the DPO for failing to report to him immediately. My DPO knelt crying, asking the area commander not to make the issue go viral. After many pleas, the area commander decided to turn a blind eye and asked us to resolve it.

On the 11th (of October), I resumed counter duty in the morning. Around 4pm, we were summoned by the area commander. Upon our arrival at the area commander’s office, we were notified that the Commissioner of Police was aware of the incident, and the area commander asked how the commissioner found out about it. That was when we were told to write a new statement, and we were notified of a trial.

After everything, officers started telling me that whatever happens in a police station stays in a police station and that there was a female inspector who had sex with a suspect, but nothing happened to her. That was how my dismissal came without committing any offence. I must get justice no matter how long it takes.

Who posted the video online and how did it go viral?

I was not the one who posted it on social media. I know the man who posted it on social media. He is a constable. I’m not going to hide anything again, if they want to trace it, they can still trace it. I eventually spoke with him, and he said he had no idea I would be dragged because of the video.

I don’t know how VeryDarkMan got the video. My family never knew anything about this issue. They saw everything on social media and whenever they asked me, I told them to forget all this social media drama.

My cell guard was immediately transferred to Abuja, FCT Command, so that I would not have any evidence or witness because it was my cell guard, Moses, and Abraham, who conspired to remove that girl from the cell.

How has your dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force impacted your personal and professional life?

I was not happy. I ran to Abuja immediately on November 6 after I heard of my dismissal. I asked, ‘How come the police dismissed me? What did I do?’ I met with the Force Public Relations Officer, who said the narrative he got was different from what I told him.

He said he was told that when the incident happened, I concealed the issue and was using it to blackmail and extort money from Abraham. I denied the allegations and was asked to make a statement. After a while, the Force PPRO told me I was still a serving member and told me to return to active duty.

While I was in Abuja, I received a call. The caller introduced himself and asked what I was doing in Abuja. He said he had intervened in my case and instructed me to return to Edo State to resume work.

Unknown to me, it was a plan to distract me, so I’d return to Edo State. I returned to work on Friday, continued on Saturday and Sunday, and was on duty again on Monday. That was when I discovered they were planning to arrest and charge me in court.

Who tried to arrest and charge you in court?

My DPO, the area commander, and two other DPOs said because I exposed a suspected rapist, they would kick me out of the police job. They wanted to arrest me and charge me. If you people want to know the truth, they should bring these people out, and let’s do it openly. I don’t want the police to investigate this matter again.

Are you saying your dismissal from the Force was not justified?

It was not justified. What did I do? Did I commit any offence? Since I started this job in January 2007, I’ve not had any criminal records, I have worked with the Force PRO in Lagos, and I don’t have any criminal record. I have served in the Police Mobile Force and have no criminal record. So, why would they accuse me and expect me to remain silent?

What is Sergeant Abraham’s current situation?

I don’t know about him. I am not sure whether he is currently detained or has been dismissed, as I did not see his name listed anywhere. I have no information about his whereabouts.

Your husband was demoted to the rank of sergeant following this incident. How do you feel about that?

He was demoted to a corporal and not even a sergeant. I’m not happy because it’s still unjustified. This is pure intimidation. That is why I want Nigerians to look into this matter. If Nigeria finds me guilty, they should do whatever they want to do, but I don’t need the police to investigate this matter again. My husband has been in detention since November 11. I don’t know why he is being detained. The police should set up a panel and invite us all again.

You threatened to kill yourself if you didn’t get justice. Why did you do so?

Yes, I said so because I needed justice over my dismissal. I need them to trace the calls I made on my phone to see if I called Abraham a second time. The only time I called him was when my DPO asked me to do so, and I made the call in her presence, I never called him to negotiate money or anything. If I forwarded the video to Abraham in the form of blackmail, they could come and check. The phone I used to make the video has been stolen at the station. Please, help me if you don’t want me to die.

You mentioned that your child was missing. What do you think led to her disappearance?

My daughter went to the police station that day to look for her father and plead with the Area Commander that he should stop coming to our house because the embarrassment was too much. A Good Samaritan gave the area commander’s number to my daughter and asked her to call and plead with him because he was not at the office. Imagine how a child of 14 years will feel. Since then, I have not seen her (daughter).

Where have you been since you learnt about your dismissal?

I’ve not been at home because I’m in hiding, and every time I call my daughters, the younger one would say her sister went out to buy something. A few days later, I had a funny feeling and called to speak with my children. That was when the younger one burst into tears and said she had not seen her sister in three days. They claimed she went to buy what they would eat only for her not to return home. We are new in the area; we only moved there in September 2024.

What do you hope to achieve by speaking out about this incident?

I hope to find Justice for my dismissal. That is all I need.