Cops leave over sex scandal

2005-09-12 12:57

Lagos - Nigeria's police will withdraw its entire contingent of 120 officers serving on a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over sexual harassment allegations, a spokesperson said on Monday.

"We are withdrawing the entire contingent because when one is contaminated the whole bunch is contaminated," said federal police spokesperson Haz Iwendi.

He said the police authorities have launched an investigation into the allegations involving 10 of the officers on the UN Mission in DRC (Monuc) had sexually harassed local women.

"The deputy inspector general of police in charge of operations, Mike Okiro, is already in Congo to bring them back. The decision followed a report by the Nigeria's ambassador in that country and we will not sweep it under the carpet," he said.

Iwendi said the move would serve as a deterrent to Nigerian peacekeepers serving in other parts of the world.

"We have contingents in about 19 countries right now and we want to send a message to all other contingents that if one finger collects oil, the whole hand is stained," he added.

Monuc, the world's biggest peacekeeping operation, has been plagued by numerous allegations of sexual abuse, with some peacekeepers and civilian staff being accused of rape, paedophilia and giving children food or money in exchange for sex.

Nigeria, Africa's political and military powerhouse with some 130 million people, has played a leading role in peacekeeping in several countries, including Liberia and Sierra Leone.

- AFP