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Alleged Police Brutality: Panel Indicts WACOL
The panel of enquiry set up by the Enugu State Police Command in the wake of the alleged attack on a staff of the Women Aid Collective, WACOL, has indicted the non-governmental organisation.
Our correspondent reports that the panel’s report was submitted to the Enugu State Police Commissioner, CP Ahmed Abdurrahman at the State Command headquarters yesterday.
WACOL had alleged that policemen from the Abakpa Area Command invaded their office and beat up a female lawyer, Goodness Ibangah to stupor over ongoing investigation on a rape case the NGO reported to the police.
However, the panel in its report has now come out to say that investigation showed that no one was beaten up either at the WACOL office or at the Area Command.
The report was presented by a member of the panel, Barr. Onuora Okeke.
The panel accused the WACOL Director, Prof. Mrs. Joy Ezeilo of misleading the public with false information.
“Allegation of beating could not be substantiated. There was no form of beating or detention of any WACOL staff. No property or belonging of WACOL was also destroyed,” the panel said.
Part of the report said: “The panel’s findings did not disclose any form of dragging, beating or detention of any WACOL staff at the Area Command Headquarters Enugu on 30th January, 2020.
“A closer scrutiny of testimonies received by the panel, especially the water-tight cross examination, show a great level of discrepancies on the part of WACOL as an organization, particularly in their statement issued on 31st January, 2020.
“The allegation by WACOL that the investigating police officers destroyed WACOL’s office doors in the process has been discovered to be untrue.
“It was further discovered in the panel’s finding that the only place the investigating police officers had squabbles, which led to dragging, was at the doorstep of wacol’s Head of Communications, Egodi Igwe.
“The allegation of beating any of wacol’s staff to stupor on 30th January 2020 was found to be untrue.”
It equally came hard on Ezeilo and the alleged victim of the said police brutality, Barr. Goodness for refusing to appear before the panel.
“Ezeilo’s action of not attending the hearing is most uncivilised; she issued press statements without cross-checking her facts,” they further stated.
It, however, said the policemen involved in the said incident acted with non-challance by not differentiating between arrest and invitation, stressing “the force on Goodness was unreasonable and avoidable.
“They carried out arrest as opposed to invitation.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
