POLICE BRUTALITY: NSCDC Personnel Illegally Detained and Assaulted in Osun State

A disturbing incident of police brutality occurred on October 22, 2024, in Osogbo, Osun State, when a group of individuals claiming to be police officers assaulted and illegally detained a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

According to eyewitnesses, the individuals, who were wearing "ANKARA" cloth and only had a jacket on top, drove recklessly into Elizabeth Estate, where the NSCDC personnel were on duty, and attempted to arrest a suspect without identifying themselves.

When the NSCDC personnel requested means of identification, the individuals failed to provide any and instead resorted to intimidation.

The situation escalated the following day, October 23, 2024, when a group of about 20 police officers descended on the NSCDC personnel, physically assaulting him and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The officer's uniform was torn, and he was brutalized beyond description, disarmed, handcuffed like a common criminal, and forcefully taken to Ataoja Division before being moved to the Police State Headquarters.

Efforts to resolve the issue amicably were made by the Commandant of NSCDC, Osun State command, Dr. Michael Adaralewa, who raised a team of senior officers to visit the Police Headquarters, but the police refused to release the detained NSCDC personnel.

The police concocted unfounded lies, claiming that the NSCDC personnel had deflated their vehicle tyres, but when questioned, they failed to provide evidence or explain how the vehicle that conveyed them left the incident scene.

Despite assurances by the police team that the NSCDC personnel would be released upon confirmation of his identity, he was not released until Friday, October 25, 2024, after undergoing more humiliating treatment.

The Osun NSCDC boss, Michael Adaralewa, has called for a thorough investigation into the matter and demands that perpetrators be brought to book.

"We demand that there should be no sacred cow in the matter, and we are not going to allow the matter to be swept under the rug," said Adaralewa.