CDHR Writes Police Service Commission, Demands Investigation On Policeman For Allegedly Assaulting NSCDC Officer

The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, CDHR, Osun state chapter, has told the Police Service Commission to quickly swing into investigation On a police officer seen in viral video beating personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.

Blaze Newz recalls that some police officers from the Oyo State Police Command on October 23, 2024 stormed Elizabeth Estate, Abere, Osun state, to arrest some suspects but were asked to identify themselves by an officer of the NSCDC.

This did not go well with men of the police that NSCDC officer serving as security of the easte requested for their identify, this led to beating, harassing handcuffing and detaining of the NSCDC officer.

Osun CDHR, who earlier condemned the confrontation describe the act as an abuse on the fundamental human rights of the NSCDC officer.

In the human rights organization’s move to ensure officer of the NSCDC gets justice, Osun CDHR through its state chairman, Comrade Olowu Emmanuel, wrote the Police Service Commission, Abuja.

The letter obtained by Blaze Newz reads in part “We would like to inform you of a case of public display of dichotomy between men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) which led to affray, aggravated assault, battery, conspiracy to kill, unlawful detention, torture, and public nuisance that occurred on the 23rd of October 2024, at Elizabeth Estate, Osogbo, Osun State.

“We write you in line with Act Establishing the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, which PART II titled FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION section 6(b) which states as follows; dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons (other than the Inspector General of Police)(2) The Commission shall not be subject to the direction, control, or supervision of any other authority or person in the performance of its functions other than as is prescribed in this Act.

“In line with the above, your Commission is the only body that has the powers to investigate the matter as stated in the above sections of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act which the sub- Section (2) affirms your independence, this indicates that only through your commission the said matter can be properly investigated without biases.

“We carefully read the press statements delivered by both the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the press release of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) titled ORDERS INVESTIGATION, SUES FOR ESPIRIT DE CORPS AMONG AGENCIES which will be attached to this letter and were the basis for our intervention and interest in the matter.

Our Concern

“If security personnel can be assaulted as seen in the viral video in such a manner, in broad daylight a civilian will be killed and thrown into the sea with impunity.

“The issue of police brutality, assault, and illegal detention persisted for seventeen (17) years in Nigeria between the years 2000 and 2017. The campaign to end the operation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) lasted for three (3) good years of social media campaigns between 2017 and 2020 which culminated in the tragic events of 20th of October 2020 at Leki tollgate, Lagos State.

“We should not forget so soon that the police’s unethical and unprofessional practices led to the protest which eventually took many lives including that of the police, destroyed properties across the country, and subjected the Nigeria government to wasting its resources to mitigate the effect of the protest caused by the long time police brutality in Nigeria.

“It is alarming to note that, despite existing regulations prohibiting the use of private vehicles for official police operations and mandating professional conduct within the police we still witness a blatant disregard for the rule of law. The recent actions of the police, including their unprofessional appearance—evidenced by officers wearing jackets over “ANKARA” cloth—reflect a troubling backwardness within the Nigerian police.

“We are aware that the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun Ph.d NPM, has ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) in charge of Zone 11 to carry out a discreet investigation into the root cause of the confrontation, however, we are of the view that the police cannot be a judge in its case, since the police are involved in the unethical and unprofessional act.

“To us in the CDHR the conduct displayed during the assault on the NSCDC personnel is unacceptable and we will not relent until justice is served because the viral video reported that the officer’s uniform was torn, he was brutally assaulted beyond description, disarmed, handcuffed like a common criminal, before he was forcefully whisked away to the Ataoja Division and late moved to the Police State Headquarters and kept in detention from 23rd of October 2024 to 25th of October 2024 despite the intervention of the NSCDC team of senior officers.

“We, in Osun CDHR, were shocked at the narration of the NSCDC that the police requested that if they could identify the officer, they would release him, however after the identification the police failed to release him, kept him in detention without treatment, to us such actions can’t and should not be justified under any circumstances.

“It is like a shock to us that in this 21st century, police still go around to arrests without proper identification or presentation of search warrants. If the police can intimidate and harass NSCDC personnel, and subject them to unlawful detention under the watch of a Commissioner of Police of a state, despite the intervention of the NSCDC team of senior officers then the common man and his family could be slaughtered, tortured, and electrocuted among other grievous form of torture.

“The file attached to this letter is a copy of the press text of the Nigeria Police, the press text of the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and the press release titled IGP orders investigation; sue for spirit the corps among agencies.

“To the best of our knowledge, both agencies cannot independently investigate this matter if we want a proper investigation that its outcome will be acceptable to Nigerians who sighted the embarrassing video and which the finding will serve as a deterrent to others who might have been willing to act in such manner.

“We are also using this medium to inform you that we have forwarded a letter to the Civil Defence Correctional Fire and immigration Board (CDCFIB) and NSCDC junior Staff Disciplinary Committee which we copied the Commandant General of the NSCDC.”