Manhandled Bus Driver Seeks Justice

A member of Nigeran Union of Drivers Welfare Association in Rivers State, Mr Arowosaye Taofeeq, has cried out over being allegedly beaten and manhandled by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, attached to the boundary between Rivers and Imo States .
Narrating his ordeal at the hands of the NCDSC officials, Mr Taofeeq told our correspondent that he was conveying passengers from Waterlines in Port Harcourt to Owerri on the day the incident occured.
Emphasizing that he almost lost his life at the hands of the NCSDC personnel, he said that he was about to cross the NSCDC checkpoint when a boy on mufti hit his car, saying he (the driver) has refused to “comply” as usual.
He said he stopped, alighted from his car, and decided to confront the boy, who allegedly collects money from commercial drivers on behalf of the Corps officers.
“As I was about holding him,the Civil Defence officers on uniform came and started beating me. I asked them my offence, but they said nothing. They handcuffed me, using sticks to beat me.
“They broke my finger while beating me. It was passers-by and passengers who intervened and asked them what my offence was before they removed the handcuff on me.
“I currently have pains all over my body: my head and parts of my body”, he said.
He, therefore, called on the authorities of the NCSDC and the leadership of the State Command to interrogate the officers and do the needful in order to ensure that justice is served in the matter.
Noting that this will serve as deterrant to others in the future, he said he had reported the matter to the commander.
Mr Taofeeq, however, expressed dismay that since he reported the incident to the commander, nothing had been done.
When contacted via phone, the spokesperson of the NCSDC in the State , Mr. Olufemi Ayodele, said he was yet to get full briefing on the matter.

By: Akujobi Amadi