By Halimah Olamide
A serving Assistant Superintendent of Police almost lost his life after soldiers of the 63 Brigade, Asaba, Delta state, brutalised him for allegedly parking his car near the gate of the brigade.
The policeman, identified as ASP Edet Inyang, was said to have parked his car in front of a store near the Brigade only to be asked to remove his car and park in another place.
“The attack happened on the 9th of December 2023. He parked his vehicle at a store close to the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba to purchase some items,” the lawyer, Inihebe Effiong said in his tweet
He said after packing, “he heard the voice of a man on mufti whom he would later identify as one Lance Corporal Onyibuchi of the Intelligence Department attached to the 63 Brigade, Asaba talking from a far distance and speaking in tones which he could not comprehend.
“While the ranting was going on, a uniformed soldier approached him and requested him to re-park his vehicle. He immediately made attempts to comply with the instruction.
“While he was trying to re-park, the said Lance Corporal approached him and dragged him backwards and asked him why he refused to obey his instructions.
Edet tried to explain that he did not hear him properly because he was inaudible given the distance between them.
“The next thing was for the said Lance Corporal to start pounding on and brutalizing ASP Edet along with not less than ten other soldiers. They brutalized him till he lost consciousness and they had to take him to the military hospital for medical care.”
The lawyer said it was while in the hospital that one of officers who he had worked with him in a Joint Taskforce recognized him.
“The soldiers who tortured him to almost a point of death upon being queried by their superior said they did not know that he was a police officer,” he said
Describing the statement as “ridiculous,” the lawyer said what happened to Inyang is a grave violation of his fundamental rights.
“ASP Edet Inwang is still receiving treatment. His left ear is barely functioning. They used iron rod to hit his head. They also used the butt of a gun to assault him till he bled.
“I have written to the Chief of Army Staff to demand that the offending soldiers be duly punished and adequate compensation paid to ASP Edet.
“We cannot continue to live in a country where the rights of citizens are abused brazenly without consequences” he said.
https://x.com/InibeheEffiong/status/1745577510698450955?s=20