Tensions flared on Friday, December 20, when Nigerian Navy officers reportedly disarmed a policeman during an alleged illegal raid in the Bassa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
The incident, involving officers from Iddo Police Station, occurred during a contentious operation where residents claimed police were unlawfully arresting individuals from homes and schools.
Eyewitnesses told *SaharaReporters* that police officers were rounding up residents indiscriminately. “They parked in front of people’s houses, waiting for them to step out, then forced them into their buses,” one source alleged.
The situation escalated when the officers reportedly attempted to detain Navy personnel. “The Navy officers questioned their actions, but one of them was slapped. In retaliation, they disarmed the policeman and threatened to use his weapon before leaving with the gun and ammunition,”the source added.
Following the altercation, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Iddo Police Station, Solomon Majit, confirmed the incident but denied claims of an illegal raid. “It’s true, but the gun has been recovered. We were conducting operations in response to security concerns in the FCT,”Majit stated.
Despite the DPO’s defense, multiple accounts from residents suggest a pattern of alleged extortion by officers from the station. Over 20 individuals reportedly arrested during the raid claimed they were coerced into paying bail fees ranging from ₦50,000 each, with some detained overnight in cells.”They arrested me without cause, slapped me, and forced me into a bus,”one victim recounted. “They demanded ₦50,000 for bail. From over 20 people, they made over a million naira.”
Residents in the area also alleged that such practices by officers from the Iddo Police Station are not new. “They often arrest people late in the evening and demand money for their release. It’s extortion disguised as law enforcement,”another source claimed.
The Nigerian Navy’s involvement in the incident has drawn attention to what some residents call a pervasive abuse of power, reigniting discussions on police reforms and accountability. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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