Officers of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Edo state command stormed a residence in Ugbiyoko area of Benin City on the 29th of April, 2019 at about 2am without Police uniform with sporadic shooting. It was a replica of armed robbery attacks thereby sending occupants of the building into frenzy as they scampered for safety.
While the shooting rages on, some of the occupants tried running out of the building as the armed-robber-look-alike police officers breaks anything on their way to gain access into the building. A not too lucky young man was shot and the bullets hit him on his leg and luckily another bullet that was to locate his heart was stopped by his mobile phone that he placed on his breast pocket.
Having gained access into the building, they upturned the building searching for guns and other dangerous weapons after which they arrested everybody on sight including the shot young man and took them to Evbuotubu police divisional headquarters, the DPO discretely rejected the suspects as the operation was not carried out by his men.
The issue that led to the operation was a misinformation by an armed robbery suspect who alleged that his gang members resides at the said building. It was later discovered by police investigation that the suspect that led them to the building lied as his statement were totally incoherent and didn't connect to the purpose of the operation.
The arrested suspects with the wounded were taken into police custody and the police started another round of accusations ranging from labelling them as cultists and discovery of laptop computer in the building and all what not in a bid to exploit them. It was later revealed that the wounded was released and was taken to the hospital for treatment and further information has it that the commissioner of police has visited the wounded suspect in the hospital.
The police officers that carried out the operation started demanding for N900, 000 as bail for the rest suspects before they can be released. When it got to their attention that among the persons arrested in a member of Edo Civil Society Organisations and sensing the pending consequences, they quickly collected N40, 000 as bail behind the scene and released them.
It therefore follows that the essence of the police in fighting crime is to make money for selves and not protect lives and property. The police authority appears to be watching and quiet as the institution degenerates on per second basis. The tension across the country on the activities of the Nigeria Police Force is very high at the moment and if it's not painstakingly addressed, it may snowball to concurrent cum unpleasant reactions from citizens.
This matter cannot be swept under the carpet as the leadership of Edo Civil Society Organisations are already reviewing the incident and taking appropriate actions in dealing with the unprofessional conduct of the officers involved.
Leftist Osazee Edigin
Public Relations Officer
Edo Civil Society Organisations
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