Police demote officer for assaulting motorist in Rivers

Internal trial of the other three policemen attached to the Rivers Command, arrested, penultimate Monday, and summoned to the Force Headquarters, the following Tuesday, has been concluded with demotion for the most senior officer and a reprimand for the other two.

The policemen identified as; Inspector Adejoh Siaka, Sgt Friday Obaka, as well as, Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari, were arrested after a viral video caught them physically abusing a motorist in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The three policemen attached to the Rivers Police Command who were caught in a video brutalising a motorist in front of his wife over yet unknown offences.

Providing fresh update on the incident, Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said one of the officers involved in the assault, identified as Adejoh Siaka ‘has been reduced in rank from Inspector to Sergeant.’

This is also as he disclosed that another officer ‘one Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari who was also present at the scene but took no steps to discourage such inappropriate and shameful act was severally reprimanded.’

Afejobi did not, however, disclose the fate of the third officer, Sgt Friday Obaka who was also arrested over the same incident as part of the unit manning a checkpoint along the East-West Expressway in Port Harccourt.

“Subsequent to complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on Sunday 9th April, 2023, on social media of assault, discreditable conduct, and incivility to members of the public, at Emouha,

Rivers State, and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, one Adejoh Siaka has been reduced in rank from Inspector to Sergeant.

“Similarly, one Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari who was also present at the scene but took no steps to discourage such inappropriate and shameful act was severally reprimanded,” Adejobi disclosed.

It would be recalled that, penultimate Monday, the Nigeria police ordered the arrest and summon of six officers; three officers caught in a viral video publicly assaulting a male motorist in front of his wife along the highway in Rivers State, and another three also caught in a video misusing their official firearms.

For the Rivers incident, 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, earlier 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 the following 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.

Already, last Thursday, the other three officers arrested in Kano for misuse of firearms have all been dismissed after internal trial.

Police announced the outright dismissal of the three officers arrested and summoned to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, for trial over various offences ranging from abuse of firearms to physical assault of a motorist.

The three policemen were arrested in Kano for shooting indiscriminately at civilians while escorting a popular musician out of an arena, while the other three were apprehended for physically assaulting a motorist along the East-West Highway in Port Harcourt.

Both incidents were captured in videos which had gone viral hours after they were posted by unknown persons at the scenes of the various incidents.

Earlier, last Wednesday,

It would be recalled that while providing further update, Adejobi, last Wednesday, confirmed that internal trial of the accused officers had started with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), 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 inspector 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.