Posted by From John Abba Ogodo, Abuja on
THE impressive records of the Nigeria Police in foreign operations may have suffered a setback following allegations that its contingent in Congo were involved in sexual harassment of the Congolese.
THE impressive records of the Nigeria Police in foreign operations may have suffered a setback following allegations that its contingent in Congo were involved in sexual harassment of the Congolese.
Although a terse statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Haz Iwendi was silent on the offence, The Guardian learnt that the breach of the United Nations code of conduct referred to in the statement has to do with Sexual harassment.
"Although the picture is not yet clear, the information reaching us has it that some of the policemen from Nigeria harassed some ladies sexually", a source said.
The source added that police authorities have dispatched the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Mr Mike Okiro to Congo to investigate the allegation and supervise the process of bringing back the contingent.
Iwendi, in a statement issued at the weekend, entitled "police withdraw its contingent from Congo", said the inspector general of police, Mr Sunday Ehindero ordered the withdrawal based on allegation of breach of the UN code of conduct by a few members of the contingent.
"The Inspector General of Police has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the whole contingent of police officers serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of an allegation of the breach of the United Nations code of conduct by a few members of the contingent", the statement reads in part. "The allegation, though not proved, is being investigated by the United Nations. The acting Inspector General of Police has directed that a machinery be set in place to discipline those suspected to have behaved discreditably and if found culpable, the arm of the law will take its course".