Decorum was thrown to the wind last Tuesday at Elizabeth Estate in Osogbo, Osun State, when police officers dressed in “Ankara” cloth, with only jackets on top, allegedly assaulted an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) assigned to a private residence, who was tasked with securing the lives and properties of the inhabitants of the house.
The incident reportedly occurred on October 22, 2024, around 8 PM. According to eyewitness accounts, the policemen recklessly drove into the estate in a private Sienna vehicle and entered the premises, which are secured by NSCDC personnel, to purportedly arrest a suspect.
Informed sources explained that trouble began when a civil defender requested identification from the police officers. This request reportedly infuriated the officers, who then assaulted the civil defence officer before whisking him away to the Ataoja Police Station.
When contacted, the NSCDC spokesperson, Mrs. Kehinde Adeleke, released a statement, highlighting the severity of the incident. She said, “A disturbing incident of barbaric police brutality occurred on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, around 8 PM, at Elizabeth Estate in Osogbo, Osun State, when a group of individuals claiming to be police officers in ‘ANKARA’ cloth with only jackets on top drove recklessly into the estate with a private Sienna vehicle. They entered the estate, which is secured by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, to purportedly arrest a suspect.”
“The personnel of the NSCDC on duty, as trained officers, requested means of identification, which the individuals claiming to be policemen failed to provide. Instead, they resorted to intimidation and verbally assaulting the NSCDC personnel on duty, as well as the Corps in general. After their failure to identify themselves, they left the premises of the estate.”
“The situation escalated the following day, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, when a group of about 20 police officers drove into the estate and assaulted one NSCDC personnel, inflicting grievous bodily harm on him. A video of the incident is attached to the statement.”
“The officer’s uniform was torn, and he was brutalised beyond description. He was disarmed, handcuffed like a common criminal, and forcefully taken to Ataoja Division before being moved to the Police State Headquarters.”
“Efforts to resolve the issue amicably were made by a team of senior NSCDC officers who visited the Police Headquarters. However, the police refused to release the detained NSCDC personnel, alleging unfounded claims of deflation of their vehicle tires.”
“When the team asked if the same vehicle was still at the scene, the police said no. When questioned if any vulcanizer had fixed the tires, the answer was ‘No.’ The team also inquired if the vehicle had been towed, to which the response was again negative. The big question then is: how did the vehicle that conveyed the policemen leave the incident scene?”
“Unfortunately, despite assurances from the police team that the NSCDC officer would be released as soon as his identity was confirmed, a confirmation letter was taken to the Police State Headquarters. Yet they never released him since Wednesday, October 23, 2024. He was only released this afternoon, today, Friday, October 25, after enduring more humiliating treatment at the hands of the policemen on duty.”
“The management of the NSCDC, Osun State Command, therefore, calls for a thorough investigation into the matter and demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice. We assert that there should be no sacred cows in this situation, and we will not allow the matter to be swept under the rug,” she concluded.
In response, the Osun State Police Command issued a statement in Osogbo, clarifying their position: “The command wishes to inform the general public and set the record straight that policemen came from Oyo State on investigative activities to an estate in Osogbo to arrest a suspected criminal. They encountered Civil Defence personnel guarding the area, who prevented them from making the arrest. In the process, two police officers were beaten and injured, and the tires of their vehicle were deflated.”
The police spokesperson, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, explained, “The policemen subsequently called for reinforcement from the nearest division. Upon the arrival of the reinforcement, the officers were rescued, and one of the Civil Defence personnel who assaulted the police officers and obstructed them from performing their lawful duty was arrested and taken to the State CID for investigation.”
“Investigation is continuing,” she added.
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