The Ogun State Police Command has issued a strong warning against the rising trend of trying rape allegations on social media before investigations are completed or courts reach a verdict.
Police Public Relations Officer Oluseyi Babaseyi raised the concern in a Tuesday statement, highlighting the influence of digital platforms on criminal cases, the necessity of objective investigations, and the fair treatment of male victims reporting sexual violence.
Babaseyi warned that while online platforms can expose hidden issues and encourage victims to speak out, social media posts, videos, and screenshots should never be treated as conclusive proof of guilt.
“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,” Babaseyi said, adding, “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.”
Emphasising the duty of law enforcement to examine facts thoroughly rather than yield to public pressure, Babaseyi detailed the police process of preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and examining forensic and digital data.
“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 stated.
The police spokesman also addressed consent, clarifying that familiarity, past encounters, or being in a relationship never imply automatic or permanent consent. Furthermore, Babaseyi called for an end to the ridicule faced by men who report sexual violence, noting that gender does not alter the reality of an assault. Pointing to legal frameworks like the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, which uses gender-neutral language, he explained that men are protected under the broader legislation.
“A male victim is still a victim. His gender should not make his experience less believable,” Babaseyi remarked, stressing that sexual violence remains a legal issue to be determined by the courts rather than by public sentiment, hashtags, or celebrity involvement. “Rape is not a popularity contest. It is not a gender war, it is not a social-media referendum.”
Babaseyi affirmed that taking allegations seriously does not require pre-judging guilt.
“We can take an allegation seriously without declaring the accused guilty. That is not contradiction, that is justice,” he said, asking citizens to prioritize truth over tribalism. “Instead of asking: ‘Whose side are you on? Perhaps we should ask, whose side is the truth on?’”
Babaseyi advocated for an environment where female and male victims can speak out without fear of silence or mockery, and where the accused receive fair due process free from internet mobbing.
“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. Where the accused can say, ‘I am innocent,’ without being convicted by strangers. And where the police can investigate without being forced to choose between compassion and impartiality,” Babaseyi advised. “Because justice is not served when we simply choose the person we prefer to believe. Justice is served when we create enough room for the truth to survive the noise.”