Officials
of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been strongly
accused of brutalizing a phone accessories' dealer, as they reportedly
shaved his hair and stuffed it into his mouth in Gombe State.
Abdullahi Ibrahim with his shaved beard in his hand
A Human Rights group have revealed that a shop owner identified as
Abdullahi Ibrahim, was severely brutalised and had his hair and beard
stuffed it into his mouth by some officials of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on September 18.
According to a report by Premium Times,
the trader disclosed that he was brutalised based on his stance on a
mobile phone charger purchased by a civil defence official in Gombe,
adding that he refused to replace the accessory, valued at N1,500, after
selling it to Bala Yayari, an Assistant Superintendent of the Corps,
who later claimed it was defective.
The 25-year-old victim who runs a phone accessories shop at Arawa
Market in Gombe town, said he refused to accede to the officer’s request
for replacement because his shop assistant, who sold the Infinix phone
charger, tested and certified the accessory as okay before the officer
left with it.
“Later, the officer returned with the same charger and asked my
assistant to replace it. But my assistant insisted that the charger was
functional when the officer bought it.
“Then the officer asked for the owner of the shop. They called
me on the phone and he asked me to come to the shop immediately or else
he would close down the shop,” he said.
He added that before he arrived at the shop, the officer had phoned two men of the NSCDC who came in mufti.
“As soon as I arrived, they asked me to give them N1500 or
replace the phone charger. I told them I am not aware of the transaction
but they should allow me confirm from my assistant.
“After my assistant briefed me about the transaction, I told
them that since the device was tested before the officer paid, there was
no way we could replace it.”
Abdullahi injured after beatings for officers of the NSCDC
The trader's refusal to return the money reportedly turned sour as the security officials would not accept such. “It
was at that moment that the two men held me by my waist, dragged and
bundled me into their waiting Peugeot 406 car and took me to the Gombe
Division of the NSCDC.
“At the division, Mr. Yayari directed that the officers on duty
to lock me up. Even before I could be taken behind the counter, one of
the officials slapped me.
“As soon as I was thrown behind the counter, one of them
ordered me to remove my shirt. He started flogging me even before I
undressed and he continued flogging me until I sustained severe
injuries.
“The official later brought out a scissors and asked me to
kneel down and he shaved off the hair on my head as well as my beard. He
then ordered me to gather the hairs and put them in my pocket, which I
did.
“The officers then asked me to hold my ears while still
kneeling down. Then they asked me to give them the N1500. One of them
forced his hand into my pockets and located the money in it. He removed
only N1500 and returned the rest to me.
“Finally they asked me to frog jump out of the premises” Abdullahi narrated.
The victim, who said he wants justice, said his family members
reported the matter to the police before he was taken to the Gombe
Specialists Hospital for treatment.
No comments:
Post a Comment