A
businessman, Victor Echefuna, has recalled how policemen used the butt of their
guns to shatter his legs, and then stripped his pregnant wife.
The
total recall came just as an Anambra State High Court, sitting in Ihiala, have
been asked to compel the Inspector-General-Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed, the
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, the head of Police Anti-Cultism Unit in
the state, Bassy and five others, to pay the sum of N112 million as damages to
Echefuna, Ogochukwu and five others.
Echefuna
and others were victims of police brutality, illegal arrest and detention.
The
victims who made their plea in a fundamental human right suit filed before the
court, signed by B.J Adigwe, alleged that they were attacked on 19th
February, 2018, by a team of policemen.
The
policemen were led by the head of Police Anti-Cultism Unit Anambra State,
Bassy. Other members of the police team are Inspector Ojedele Francis, Linus
Emeyi, Chinedu Oko, Emmanuel Amakeme and David.
Echefuna
was in his hotel belong, at Okija area of the state, when the policemen came
and started shooting sporadically into the air.
When
Echefuna tried to find out from the policemen why they invaded his hotel and
started shooting indiscriminately, he was beaten, brutalized and his leg shattered
with the butt of a gun. This action left his thighs and femur damaged. He was
then thrown into a big gutter.
Echefuna’s
pregnant, who tried to assist her husband from the gutter, was stripped,
beaten, and pushed to the ground. The trauma was alleged to have made her lose
her baby few days after delivery.
While
the drama lasted, the other victims, who were staff and customers of the hotel
were handcuffed and taken to Enugu-Ekwu office of the Anti-Cultism Unit. They
were detained for six days and those days, their statements were not taken.
They were only released after each allegedly parted with N60, 000 for bail.
In
an affidavit deposed by Echefuna before the court, he alleged that after the
policemen left his premises with his staff and customers, some onlookers came to
his rescue.
When
the Good Samaritans discovered the magnitude of his injuries, he was rushed to
a hospital in Okija for first aid, from where he was taken to orthopedic
hospital in Enugu State.
According
to the Affidavit, Echefuna said: “I’m the owner of Vic-Excellent Relaxation
Resort Limited, located at Umuapani, Okija Anamabra State. I was informed by
the manager of my hotel through the phone on 19th February, 2018,
that there was pandemonium in my hotel premises as gunshots were being fired
recklessly in the air. People were chased, arrested and handcuffed and taken
into a waiting vehicle.
“On
getting this information, I called the Okija Crime Divisional Officer (DCO)
several times on the phone without an answer. I subsequently called the Area
Commander Ihiala and informed him of my plight. He advised me to approach
whoever the leader was, and introduced myself. He said that I should give the
leader the phone and tell them that it is the Area Commander Ihiala that wanted
to speak with them. I approached the leader and identified myself as the owner
of the hotel. I gave him my phone and told him that the area commander would
like to talk to him. He got angry and started slapping me. His men joined him; they
started beating and kicking me. The leader ordered that I should be arrested,
handcuffed and thrown into their vehicle. I insisted on knowing who they were,
what my offence was, where they wanted to take me to, the reason for their
presence in my hotel and if they had booked their presence in Okija Police
Station before coming to my hotel.”
Echefuna
said that his questions infuriated the team leader, who then brought out a gun
and started using the butt to hit his leg and broke it.
“His
colleagues joined him. They kicked me into the gutter where I sustained head
and shoulder injuries. My wife, who was at the scene when this was happening,
started shouting that they would kill me. She made an attempt to rescue me;
they grabbed and flung her on the tarred road. My wife’s wrapper fell off her
body. She laid there helpless,” said Echefuna.
He
added: “When the policemen noticed that people within the community were
getting angry, they quickly left the scene. Some of the onlookers took me
to a hospital in Okijia, where I got first aid. I was referred to orthopedic
hospital where I was hospitalized for a long time. I had a surgical operation
and a rod was inserted into my thigh to strengthen the broken bones, after
which my leg was placed on Plaster of Paris (POP). Unfortunately the bone was
discovered to be out of alignment. After several months of excruciating pains,
it was discovered that I needed another corrective surgery. I have
been immobilized since February 2018 and I’m no longer in a position to have
any means of livelihood as a result of the torturous act of the policemen.”
Echefuna
said that after his pregnant wife was stripped and flung on the ground, she
stated bleeding the following day; she was rushed to hospital. “My wife was
hospitalized and informed that the baby she was carrying was highly traumatized
as a result of throwing her down on a hard surface. The doctor made
serious efforts to save the life of the baby and that of my wife’s. The doctor
managed the situation and my wife was under close checkup, but the baby died
shortly after birth.
“Those
arrested on the day of the attack were made to pay N60, 000 each before they
were released. Nobody stood as surety for them. Since the arbitrary
invasion of my hotel, and the arrest and beating of my customers, including
money extorted from them, the news went into town like wide fire, people no
longer visit my hotel. They were afraid of repeat occurrence.”
He
said that he wrote a petition to the IGP, alerting him about the situation. An
IGP Squad in Akwa was instructed to look into the allegations and infringement
of Echefuna’s fundamental rights. He said that nothing was done.
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