Some policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad have allegedly assaulted a female member of the National Youth Service Corps, simply identified as Akinlabi, in Anambra state.
Akinlabi, while narrating her experience during a press chat, said she was practically naked in her room when the policemen bashed in around 2 am and beat her up.
She said the cops claimed that they were looking for Internet fraudsters adding that she was fast asleep when the cops entered her compound.
The corper said, “Around 2 am on that day, a team of people invaded our compound claiming to be SARS and searching yahoo boys.
“They broke my window net, pointed their torchlight at my face while asleep, and commanded me to open the entrance door for them.
“I was scared to obey their command because I couldn’t identify who they were. Rather, I shouted and ran into the passage for help.
“On getting to the passage, I saw another set of people at the window, threatening to deal with me if I did not open the door.
“As I continued to shout for help, one of my neighbors opened her door for me and I entered her room. I was shocked as they still came to the window of the woman, insisting that we must open the door or they would break it.
“Some of them later broke into an empty room by cutting off the burglary proof and entering the passage. The others broke the burglary proof of the room we were and opened the door for others to have access to the room. They started assaulting me by slapping and hitting me with cutlasses and sticks.
She said “At this point, I was practically naked and had to beg them to allow me to put on my clothes, which they eventually agreed. But they violated my privacy, as I was forced to dress up in their presence.
The corper further stated that “The beating continued after that and I got handcuffed like a common criminal for an offense I knew nothing about.”
The corps member called on the Inspector-General of Police, the right groups, and the international community to bring the officers to justice and get her compensated.
The Anambra State Police Command said it has begun an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Haruna Mohammed, The state Police Public Relations Officer, said John Abang, the Commissioner of Police, had invited the corps member through the NYSC state coordinator.
The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation into the matter.