The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, has warned against the growing practice of reaching verdicts on rape allegations through social media before investigations are concluded or cases are determined by the courts.
Babaseyi made the observation in a Tuesday statement examining the handling of rape allegations, the influence of social media on criminal cases and the treatment of men who report sexual violence.
He said social media had increasingly become a platform where allegations were judged before the police investigated them, evidence was examined or lawyers and courts had the opportunity to test the facts.
According to him, rape was one of the gravest allegations a person could face and should therefore be treated with seriousness, sensitivity and proper investigation, stressing that an allegation should not automatically be treated as a conviction.
Babaseyi said social media could play a positive role by exposing issues that might otherwise remain hidden, encouraging victims to speak, raising public awareness and putting pressure on institutions to act on legitimate complaints.
However, he warned against treating social media posts, videos and screenshots as proof of guilt.
The police spokesman said investigators had a responsibility to establish facts rather than manufacture guilt or innocence.
