Why Ekiti Police Attacked & Detained Nursing Mum| See Governor Fayose’s Reaction to the Attack
A nursing mother, Toyin Adeleye, who returned from the United States of America about a week ago had a feel of the brutality of the police on Friday in Ado, Ekiti State after she reportedly refused to give bribe to police at a check point in the city.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the woman, along with her 2-month-old baby, Heritage, and her younger brother, Adeniyi Dada, were allegedly beaten up by five officers before they were detained at a police station.
In addition to detaining the victims, the policemen also impounded the black Kia Picanto car with registration number LAGOS FKJ 221 EE which she drove while returning from the market.
The injured woman was seen breastfeeding her baby when journalists visited the police station on Saturday.
The woman’s husband, Akanni Adeyeye, while speaking to journalists, lamented the inhumane treatment meted out on his wife, and pointed out that she had bruises on her face and lacerations on her body.
Adeyeye, who slept in the police station to keep his wife company, said the policemen had requested the vehicle papers and the driver’s license of his brother-in-law, who was driving the car.
”My wife and her brother were returning from the market at about 3.00 p.m. on Friday and on arrival at the checkpoint in front of the Pavilion very close to their station, they asked for all vehicle papers and driver’s licence which were produced and they are valid.
After checking all the documents, the policemen were demanding for money to be given as ‘settlement’ which my wife and her brother refused. My wife drew their attention to the baby that was crying in the car. Five of them were beating her at the point of arrest and on getting to the station, the beating continued. After thoroughly beating her, they obtained her statement around 10.00 p.m. There are wounds on the back of my wife and face to show for it.
On getting to the station, they now cooked up a story that my wife slapped one of them and tore his uniform which is a lie. They are telling this lie to justify their action of their cruelty to my wife, my baby and my brother-in-law.
Neither my wife nor her brother slapped any policeman or tore any uniform. The question to be asked is how would somebody who is not armed attack an armed policeman? They cooked up this falsehood to cover up their brutality,” he explained.
Speaking on the incident, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe, claimed the victim was detained for attacking a policeman on duty, adding that the woman tore the uniform of the policeman.
He said the matter would be further investigated.
”It is not good for somebody to prevent a law enforcement officer from carrying out his lawful duty, somebody wearing the uniform? It is not about his age but the authority he carries, I don’t allow my men to do something contrary to the law.
Those people slapped my policeman on duty and tore his uniform. Uniform is an authority and what those people did was against the law and it is not good for a civilian to slap a policeman
I don’t want a woman to be detained with baby or with pregnancy, I don’t want an old woman or a minor to be detained. I have taken note of this and we will take the right action on the matter as investigation continues.”
Reacting to the matter, Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose on Sunday night announced that an investigative panel has been set to unravel what transpired in the case.
Fayose made this known while speaking on a monthly public enlightenment programme: “The Governor Explains”.
The governor said he was particularly disturbed by media reports linking policemen to the alleged beating of the woman despite her status as a nursing mother. He described the policemen’s action as regrettable coming barely two weeks after the state celebrated Women’s Day with fanfare.
Speaking further, the governor declared that the law on violence against women still subsists in the state, and that the law would be applied as appropriate in this matter.
The woman and her daughter were released by the police on Saturday night.
Photo Credit: NAN Photo
Even if she tore and slapped an officer, is that enough reason for her to be brutalized like this? This is inhumane and the officers involved should be punished.
Nigerian police… The citizens you are supposed to protect you now molest. A woman for that matter with a suckling baby. Extortion is already in your DNA and everybody can attest to that. Your wives will be next in line for this brutal attack. NEMESIS must meet up with you.
what do dey teach these police guys