Kano, Rivers: Arrested police officers now facing trial over motorist’s assault, misconduct

Six police officers arrested recently in Kano and Rivers states are now facing trial for offences ranging from violent assault and abuse of arms, according to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Wednesday.

Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who said this, Wednesday, while providing update on the incidents of misconduct leveled against officers caught on video assaulting a male motorist in Rivers, and another set shooting sporadically at civilians while escorting a popular musician out of an arena.

Both sets of police officers who were arrested and summoned to the Force Headquarters, Monday, appeared on Tuesday, at the Force Headquarters for questioning.

The arrested officers include; Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi; Sgt. Isah Danladi; and  Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu from the Kano Command, and Inspectors; Adejoh Siaka, Friday Obaka, as well as, Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari from the Rivers Command.

“These men have been arrested, and their commander will personally bring to the Force Headquarters tomorrow Tuesday for further actions. They are 3 in number, attached to RRS, Rivers State. Their action does not portray the police in a good light at all.

“It is still to buttress my point that whatever a policeman does is personal, not systemic. I wonder how a man, a reasonable man, would be flogging or slapping a grown-up man in that manner. So barbaric and unpolice,” Adejobi had informed, Monday.

After the officers showed up in Abuja, Tuesday, the police spokesperson further disclosed that trial proceedings for misconduct charges will now commence.

 “They reported at the Force Headquarters today. Trial will soon commence. We will update you as soon as possible. Thanks,” he said.

Providing further update, Adejobi, Wednesday, confirmed that internal trial of the accused officers had started with the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkal personally interviewing them, adding that the outcome of the process will be made public soon.

“The IGP interviewed the policemen involved in the case personally today Wednesday and ordered the immediate trial of the men, while another member of the team who is at large be produced for necessary disciplinary action.

“The outcome of the trial will be made public as soon as possible. The insp who was on t-shirt and jeans, with beards, has a very clean shave and put on camo to the FHQ. He couldn’t wear that operational outfit in the viral video.

“This is an indication that many of them who are deviants do whatever they do on the field with the belief that no one sees them. Hence, the need to expose them for any wrong doings.

“Also, the trial of the men from Kano who were firing to rub the ego of a Kano based musician has been concluded. I expect to have the report tomorrow for my press statement. Thanks,” Adejobi said.

It would be recalled that police authorities, last Monday, apprehended three officers caught in a viral video publicly assaulting a male motorist in front of his wife along the highway in Rivers State.

It is yet unknown who recorded the video which went viral almost instantly, however, police have confirmed that the officers involved in the act have been arrested and summoned to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to ‘for further actions.’

The incident was said to have occurred, Sunday, at the Emouha junction, along the East/West Expressway, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The abusive officer and his colleagues were not in approved uniforms but were armed.

In the video, one of the officers was seen assaulting the man with a stick before slapping him repeatedly, and then ordering him into a car, along with the victim’s supposed wife.

The officers were obviously not aware that their actions were being filmed.

In another viral video, one other officer forcefully pushed other passengers to their car and cocked his gun.

When first contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, condemned the assault and called on the victims to officially report the incident so that they can get justice.

“I have seen the video but I am yet to ascertain what actually happened whether it was really Emouha or not. I have already sent the video to our platform for the officers to be identified and have asked that the person or persons that were assaulted should come to the office and see me so that I can get more facts and details.

“There is no official report; I only saw it on Twitter handle,” she said.

However, replying a Twitter user, Ibitoye Shittu (@IbiShittu) who complained to him about the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Monday, disclosed that the officers involved in the incident have been arrested and will appear at the Force Headquarters in Abuja for what he described as ‘barbaric and unpolice.’

The police spokesperson further added that the three officers involved in the incident will appear in Abuja, adding that ‘their commander will personally bring (them) to the Force Headquarters tomorrow Tuesday for further actions.’

“These men have been arrested, and their commander will personally bring (them) to the Force Headquarters tomorrow Tuesday for further actions. They are 3 in number, attached to RRS, Rivers State. Their action does not portray the police in a good light at all.

“It is still to buttress my point that whatever a policeman does is personal, not systemic. I wonder how a man, a reasonable man, would be flogging or slapping a grown-up man in that manner. So barbaric and unpolice,” the Adejobi said.