The Ogun State Police Command has warned Nigerians against turning social media into a “courtroom” for rape allegations, saying suspects should not be convicted online before proper investigation and judicial determination.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, gave the warning on Tuesday while examining the growing influence of social media on criminal cases and the treatment of men who report sexual violence.
Babaseyi said the internet had increasingly become a platform where rape allegations were judged before investigators could establish the facts, evidence could be properly examined or lawyers and courts could test competing claims.
“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,” he said.
The police spokesman described rape as one of the most serious allegations anyone could face, stressing that every complaint must be handled with sensitivity, seriousness and proper investigation.
He warned that an allegation, no matter how widely circulated online, should not automatically be treated as a conviction.
According to him, social media can play a useful role in exposing sexual abuse, encouraging victims to speak out, creating public awareness and compelling institutions to act on genuine complaints.
However, he cautioned that viral posts, videos and screenshots should not automatically be treated as 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,” Babaseyi said.
He said the responsibility of investigators was to establish facts rather than manufacture guilt or innocence.
According to him, proper police investigation involves receiving complaints, protecting complainants, identifying and interviewing relevant persons, preserving evidence, examining digital communications, considering available medical or forensic evidence, tracing witnesses and testing competing 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 said.
Babaseyi also condemned the mockery of men who report sexual violence, insisting that the gender of a victim should not determine whether a complaint is taken seriously.
“A male victim is still a victim. His gender should not make his experience less believable,” he stated.
He explained that Nigeria has different legal frameworks governing sexual offences, including the Criminal Code, Penal Code and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as well as applicable state laws.
Babaseyi noted that while the Criminal and Penal Codes have traditionally framed rape provisions around male perpetrators and female victims, the VAPP Act adopts broader language.
He said the reference to “another person” and the requirement that “the other person does not consent” under the Act meant that men could also be victims of rape within the broader legal framework.
He, however, stressed that the law applicable to any case would depend on the jurisdiction and legislation in force.
According to him, rape is ultimately a legal matter that must be determined under the applicable law, rather than through hashtags, celebrity influence or public sentiment.
“Rape is not a popularity contest. It is not a gender war, it is not a social-media referendum,” he said.
The Ogun police spokesman further warned against assuming consent simply because two people are familiar, in a relationship or have previously had consensual sexual encounters.
“Knowing someone does not automatically mean consenting to sex.
“Being in a relationship does not automatically mean consenting to every sexual act. A previous consensual encounter does not create permanent consent,” he said.
Babaseyi urged Nigerians to take allegations seriously while allowing investigators and courts to determine the facts.
“We can take an allegation seriously without declaring the accused guilty. That is not contradiction, that is justice,” he said.
He appealed to the public to focus on the truth rather than taking sides based on personal preferences or emotions.
“Instead of asking: ‘Whose side are you on?’ Perhaps we should ask, whose side is the truth on?” he said.
Babaseyi said justice required both compassion and due process, stressing that victims must be protected without abandoning fairness to accused persons.
“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,” he said.
He concluded that justice would not be achieved by simply believing the person most favoured by public opinion.
“Justice is served when we create enough room for the truth to survive the noise,” Babaseyi said.
