The Delta Police Command has explained the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on a foreign national by operatives deployed to the Agbor-Benin Express road on May 8.
Footage captured by a woman revealed how her spouse, whom she described as a Ghanaian-German national, was assaulted by police operatives in the state.
As a first-time visitor to Nigeria, the woman who filmed the footage acknowledged that their vehicle was flagged by police operatives during a stop and search along the said axis.
She said she captured the process to avoid any ulterior motive. “They checked our luggage thoroughly and found nothing incriminating,” she said.
She, however, noted that during the search, officers found a piece of clothing resembling military camouflage in her husband’s bag, which they claimed was an army uniform.
She also said she disclosed to the officers that her husband was not a Nigerian and that adding such an outfit similar to an army camouflage was an oversight.
Things, however, escalated. According to her, the husband had started sweating and asked for a tissue, which their daughter offered him.
She said, “While he was cleaning his sweat, two policemen suddenly grabbed him by the neck. One of them began forcing the tissue into his mouth and shouting that he was swallowing drugs.”
“They inflicted injuries on him. They kept shouting, ‘He’s swallowing drugs,’ but he was only wiping his face. I was in shock. I kept asking what was going on.”
However, the police in Delta State described the footage as one intended to incite the public and the social media community against the policemen.
“For the avoidance of doubt”, the police gave their account of the event, acknowledging that their operatives intercepted a commercial Sienna vehicle carrying about seven occupants.
“The occupants and their luggage were subjected to a search, but this did not go down well with the Nigerian woman who recorded the video, and she started insulting and harassing the policemen.
“As seen in the video, the police were calm and professional despite all her provocative comments.
“Her claim that the policemen assaulted her husband is false and a deliberate attempt to paint the image of the police force in a bad light.
“As heard in the video, she was calling out to the Facebook community and the social media community, which implies that she was aiming at creating content,” the police explained.
The police further noted that while the command is intolerant of operatives’ indiscipline or incivility to the public, it was pertinent for commuters to avail police personnel of the freedom to carry out their duties.
“Hence, the command is advising road users plying Delta State roads to be mindful of this fact and cooperate with the police when it is required.
“For any altercation with the police in Delta State, members of the public are advised to reach the command through the Delta State Complaints Response Unit dedicated phone numbers: 09155570008; 09155570007; 09011112311.”
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