Posted by From Funmi Peter-Omale in Abuja on
Indicted police officers and men serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently being investigated on allegations of sexual misconduct, have been suspended from duty.
Indicted police officers and men serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently being investigated on allegations of sexual misconduct, have been suspended from duty.
Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero told the group; 'you have brought shame to Nigeria."
No fewer than 19 members of the contingent were allegedly indicted by the United Nations Mission. The misconduct allegedly took place around July.
After the allegations, 120 policemen that comprised 110 men and 10 women were repatriated after barely two months in the DRC.
Addressing the contingent yesterday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IG said for the first time in the history of peace keeping, a Nigerian contingent was being withdrawn.
'Sometimes in July 2005, there were allegations that some members of the police contingent in the United Nations Observation Mission in Congo were involved in sexual misconduct. As a result, the department of peace keeping operations set up a special investigation panel to investigate the allegations and report findings."
He disclosed that the findings revealed that there were 19 cases of sexual abuse/misconduct against some of the men and officers and added that investigations conducted also established 'corroborated cases against 11 officers including your commander who breached the United Nations Code of Conduct."
The indicted officers include ASP Ali Hussaini, ASP Iwuoha Felix, Inspector Zakari Philip, 204672 Sgt Yaqoob Isa, 167994 Sgt Omachi Ocheni, 156117 Sgt Atodijo Amos and 167170 Sgt Andrew Edwin. Others
include 162628 Sgt Dauda Bemus 192437 Cpl Jacob Abode,