By Kehinde Adesola, Osogbo
OSOGBO: The Inspector-General of Police, IGP kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the violent clash between operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and members of the police inside an estate in Osogbo, Osun State.
The altercation which threw the estate into an atmosphere of chaos left some residents fleeing in different directions with injuries. One was sighted bleeding from the mouth.
A trending video of the incident also showed an NSCDC operative disarming a police officer in the ensuing fisticuff who in turn, fought back, seized the young NSCDC officer by the neck and struck him hard on his right cheek.
The Daily Crucible learnt that as the clash lingered, a police reinforcement stormed the estate, arrested the NSCDC operative and whisked him away.
However, IGP Egbetokun who expressed displeasure over the public confrontation between the two agencies ordered a probe even as he preached the practice of ‘esprit de corps’ – the spirit of camaraderie, teamwork, and shared purpose that binds officers and men within the police organisation as well as their colleagues across other agencies.
The police boss who made this known on Sunday through a statement by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force spokesperson, gave the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 11, Osogbo the directive to carry out a discreet investigation into the root cause of the confrontation.
“In response to a viral video of public confrontation between Officers of the Nigeria Police Force and Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osogbo, Osun State, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP kayode Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM, expresses displeasure at the act of unprofessionalism and public display of dichotomy, and has ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 11, Osogbo to carry out a discreet investigation into the root cause of the confrontation.
“It is pertinent to recall that in a press statement from the NPF, Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/257 dated 15th October, 2023 “IGP HOLDS STRATEGIC CONFERENCE WITH SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS, harps on professionalism, camaraderie”, the IGP while strongly emphasizing the core essentials of synergy for efficiency and productivity among security operatives stated thus – “At this moment, I must stress the importance of ‘esprit de corps’ – the spirit of camaraderie, teamwork, and shared purpose that binds us within our organization and with our colleagues across other agencies. It is essential for the successful execution of our duties that we honor and respect all colleagues and members of other services within the confines of the law’
“The IGP however calls for calm as the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership would continually work in collaboration with relevant sister security agencies towards ensuring we achieve a safe and secure environment for our dear country Nigeria,” the statement read.
CDHR Condemns Police Over Assault On NSCDC Officer In Viral Video
Nigeria
Meanwhile, the Osun State Chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned what it termed an “unprovoked assault” by Nigeria police operatives on officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osogbo.
The CDHR’s reaction follows a confrontation between the two security agencies on October 22 and 23, culminating in the detention of NSCDC personnel by the Osun State Police Command.
The Daily Crucible learnt that the altercation started at Elizabeth Estate, Osogbo, when operatives from Oyo State Police Command attempted to arrest some crime suspects believed to be hiding in the estate being guarded by the NSCDC.
While the NSCDC Osun Command in a statement by Commandant Michael Adaralewa, blamed the police operatives from Oyo for the confrontation with the NSCDC personnel stationed in the estate, the Osun State Police Command, through spokesperson Yemisi Opalola, said the NSCDC personnel obstructed the police from arresting a suspected criminal in the estate.
Opalola also claimed that the NSCDC operatives beat and injured two police officers and deflated the tires of their vehicle in the process.
However, the CDHR, through its chairman, Emmanuel Olowu, berated the police for allegedly assaulting members of other law enforcement agency.
Citing a viral video, CDHR stated that the visual showed NSCDC officers being assaulted, detained, and handcuffed “like a common criminal.”
The group added that the detained personnel was allegedly moved between various police stations and denied release despite NSCDC’s identification.
He said, “After carefully reviewing the press statements delivered by both organizations involved, it has become evident that the police have assumed a stance of supremacy over the NSCDC, undermining the rights and dignity of fellow law enforcement officers. To us, this attitude of the set of police officers threatens the integrity of the Nigeria Police force and poses a grave risk to the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“If a security personnel can be assaulted in such a manner in broad daylight a civilian will be killed and thrown into the sea.
“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 Lekki, 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, 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.
“Four years after the EndSARS protest, the Nigerian government has not implemented the recommendation of the EndSARS Judicial Panel held across the country, which was a reason that the police, on the 23rd of October 2024, brutalised NSCDC officers at Elizabeth Estate, Osogbo, Osun State. 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 that should warrant the attention of civil society across Nigeria because if we do not check the police now, it might be our turn tomorrow.
“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 later 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 making 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.”
