Police warn against ‘social media verdicts’ on rape cases

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, has cautioned against the practice of making premature judgments on rape allegations via social media before investigations are finalized or cases are decided by courts. In a statement on Tuesday, Babaseyi highlighted how social media has become a platform for judging allegations before police investigations, evidence review, or legal proceedings.

He emphasized that rape is one of the most serious charges a person can face and must be treated with seriousness, sensitivity, and thorough investigation. Babaseyi stressed that an allegation should not be automatically treated as a conviction. While acknowledging the positive role social media can play in exposing issues, encouraging victims to speak, raising public awareness, and pressuring institutions to act on legitimate complaints, he warned against treating social media as proof of guilt.

He noted that posts, videos, and screenshots can be misleading, as they may not provide the full context or represent the complete story. Babaseyi stated that investigators have a responsibility to establish facts rather than create guilt or innocence. He urged police investigations to involve receiving complaints, protecting complainants, identifying relevant individuals, preserving evidence, examining digital communications, considering medical or forensic evidence, tracing witnesses, and testing competing accounts.

He also called for an end to the mockery of men who report rape, emphasizing that a male victim is still a victim and his gender should not diminish the believability of his experience. Babaseyi highlighted that Nigeria has different legal frameworks governing sexual offences, with the VAPP Act using broader language that allows men to be victims under the broader framework.

He reiterated that rape is a legal matter to be determined under the applicable law, not by hashtags, celebrity status, or public sentiment.