Rape is a Crime, Not Romance — FCT Police Warn

T The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has cautioned Nigerians against trivialising rape, stressing that the offence is a serious crime that cannot be excused under the guise of affection.

The Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, issued the warning in a post on her X handle, where she disclosed a recent incident involving a victim who reported her boyfriend for allegedly raping her but pleaded that he should not be detained for too long because she still loved him.

Quoting the distressed caller, Adeh wrote: “A lady called me, begging: ‘Officer, please arrest my boyfriend, he raped me… but wait o, I still love him, don’t lock him for too long!’”

Adeh emphasised that while “love may be complicated,” rape is a crime and the law must take its full course regardless of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.

She urged victims of sexual assault to report incidents without hesitation, assuring that the police will treat such cases with utmost seriousness.

The Command also released hotlines for immediate reporting: Complaint Response Unit (CRU) – 08107314192; Emergency – 08032003913.