By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Ogun State Police Command has cautioned members of the public against the growing trend of passing verdicts on rape allegations via social media platforms before thorough investigations are carried out or decided by the courts.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Oluseyi Ababaseyi, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday, where he examined the handling of sexual assault cases, the influence of online commentary, and the societal treatment of male victims.
Ababaseyi noted that social media has increasingly turned into an informal courtroom where claims are judged before law enforcement agencies can investigate, evaluate evidence, or present cases in court.
“The courtroom now has a competitor. It is called the internet. And sometimes, it is faster than justice. But speed is not the same as truth,” Ababaseyi stated.
While acknowledging that the internet can play a constructive role by highlighting hidden atrocities, urging victims to speak out, and holding institutions accountable, the PPRO warned against relying solely on online posts, videos, or screenshots as definitive proof of guilt.
“A post can go viral without being verified, a video can create an impression without providing the complete context, and a screenshot can be genuine and still tell only part of a story,” he explained.
He emphasized that police investigators carry the obligation to uncover objective facts rather than fabricate guilt or innocence.
He outlined that police work entails gathering complaints, protecting victims, interviewing relevant parties, securing evidence, reviewing digital evidence, evaluating medical reports, tracing witnesses, and cross-checking accounts.
“The investigation must be willing to follow the evidence wherever it leads. That is what makes policing credible, not the ability to satisfy the crowd, but the courage to pursue the truth,” he asserted.
Addressing the legal aspects, Ababaseyi stated that rape is among the most severe criminal accusations and must be approached with seriousness, sensitivity, and proper procedure, cautioning that an allegation should never automatically equal a conviction.
He also called for an end to the social stigma and mockery faced by male victims of sexual violence, maintaining that gender should never determine whether a complaint is taken seriously.
“A male victim is still a victim. His gender should not make his experience less believable,” Ababaseyi said.
He further pointed out that Nigeria operates under diverse statutory frameworks for sexual offences, including the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, and various state laws. While older codes traditionally framed rape around male perpetrators and female victims, the VAPP Act incorporates broader terminology such as “another person” and “the other person does not consent,” thereby encompassing male victims.
The police spokesperson stressed that legal provisions were not mere theoretical concepts, noting that sexual offence charges must be determined strictly under applicable statutes rather than public sentiment or online trends.
“Rape is not a popularity contest. It is not a gender war, it is not a social-media referendum,” he noted.
Ababaseyi added that consent must never be assumed based on familiarity, existing relationships, or past interactions.
“Knowing someone does not automatically mean consenting to sex,” he said.
“Being in a relationship does not automatically mean consenting to every sexual act. A previous consensual encounter does not create permanent consent,” Ababaseyi added.
He reiterated that members of the public can treat allegations with seriousness without immediately declaring accused individuals guilty.
“We can take an allegation seriously without declaring the accused guilty. That is not contradiction, that is justice,” he said.
He urged the public to pursue truth over personal biases or internet loyalty.
“Instead of asking: ‘Whose side are you on?’ Perhaps we should ask, whose side is the truth on?”
He underscored that true justice demands a balance between compassion for victims and fair trial guarantees for the accused.
“Let us therefore create a society where a woman can say, ‘I was raped,’ without being silenced. Where a man can say the same without being mocked,” Ababaseyi urged.
“Where the accused can say, ‘I am innocent,’ without being convicted by strangers,” he said.
“And where the police can investigate without being forced to choose between compassion and impartiality,” Ababaseyi advised.
Concluding his statement, Ababaseyi reaffirmed that public preference should never determine the administration of justice.
“Because justice is not served when we simply choose the person we prefer to believe,” he stated.
“Justice is served when we create enough room for the truth to survive the noise,” he said.
