Soldiers on Monday, in Koko, Warri North
Local Government Area of Delta State attacked and injured police officers from
Delta State Police Command, who were on escort duty with the state Commissioner
for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu.
A police corporal, who drove one of the
police vehicles, was beaten to a bloody pulp by the soldiers for allegedly
blaring siren in the premises of the Warri North Local Government Council,
which is close to a military outpost. He fainted in the process and was rushed
to the hospital for medical attention.
Sources say junior police police officers
were planning a showdown with soldiers in the state, as they said it has become
a tradition for them to attack police officers in the state without justifiable
reasons.
Confirming the attack, State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said the soldiers accused the police officers of
blaring siren inside the secretariat of the council.
“It is sheer brutality. I have reported the
matter to the Inspector General of Police and contacted army authorities in the
state, but they said they did not authorize the assault.
“They told us that there is no bad blood, but
there is bad blood. Why did they attack fellow uniformed men in such a manner
in the course of their duty? We are making a formal report on the incident.
“My stand is that the soldiers responsible
for this attack should be fished out and made to face the music.”
“The police officers from the B’ Operations
Department of the Delta State Police Command were on escort duty with the
Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu. It was an
empowerment programme for the less privileged by the state government and
because she was carrying some money for the programme, they requested police
escort,” a source told Vanguard.
“As it is usual on such occasion, the siren
was on when they entered the premises of Warri North Local Government Coucil
and about eight soldiers came from a nearby outpost and asked the police
driver, Corporal Ekome, to frog-jump.
“The police officer that led the team came to
tell the soldiers that they should stop the confrontation, but the soldiers
attacked him, seized his rifle and tore the button on his uniform.
“With the atmosphere charged, more soldiers
joined their colleagues and insisted that the police driver must frog-jump,
which he resisted.
“The soldiers descended on him, ignoring the
appeal from other police officers to stop creating a bad impression of Nigeria
security officials in the eyes of the public.
“Some of the policemen wanted to retaliate,
but were prevailed upon by the crowd, which watched the show of shame with
dismay.
“The commissioner was shocked by the incident
as she stood watching without knowing what to make out of the ugly show of
power,” the source said.
Source: Vanguard
this is not good. I Think d soldiers involved in dis should b dealt with severely hw can u beat a fellow uniform man
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