Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, condemned the murder of Ms. Omobolanle Raheem, at the hands of a police officer, Drambi Vandi, calling it deeply disturbing.
While expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased lawyer, the UN official called for justice for Raheem and also urged the government to review and strengthen the police’s rules of conduct and standard operating procedure.
Schmale in a statement on Saturday expressed concern about what she described as the relentless epidemic of violence against women and girls, adding that the UN would continue to support the Federal Government and the police to protect women and girls in any way of violence as well as ensuring that the rights of the most vulnerable in society are fully respected.
He stated: ”The murder on December 25 of Ms. Omobolanle Raheem, a lawyer, by a Nigerian Police officer in Lagos State is deeply disturbing and saddening. On behalf of the United Nations system in Nigeria, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Raheem and to her professional colleagues and friends. We urge timely justice for Ms. Raheem and her family.
“I would also like to encourage the Nigerian government to review and strengthen the implementation of the Rules of Engagement and Police Force Standard Operating Procedure on Human Rights, in order to prevent a similar incident in the future.
”As yet another year comes to a close, it is worrying that the epidemic of violence against women and girls has not abated. The United Nations will continue to support the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Police to protect women and girls from all forms of violence and ensure that the human rights of the most vulnerable in society are fully respected.”
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