Police, Security Guards at Shoprite Brutalise Lawyer in Kano
Despite the #EndSARS agitations that shook the fabrics of Nigeria to its roots earlier in the year, policemen in the country have not learnt the civility that goes with modern policing.
A Kano-based lawyer, Alhaji Ibrahim, who was beaten blue-black by some mobile policemen and security guards attached to Ado Bayero Mall (Shoprite) along Zoo Road in Kano last Wednesday, narrated his ordeal to Online News
Our reporter went to Kwalli Police Division where the victim was taken after been battered at the Shoprite by the combined brutal forces of trained policemen and almost untrained rented security guards from Technocrime Security Limited.
Online News found one policeman trying to forcefully make the victim sign a plain paper on which the victim’s names were written but without any statement.
The victim was insisting that he will not sign anything and that he would only write his statement when his black eye is clear enough to see.
A senior officer at the division came in to intervene, telling the other officer to leave the lawyer alone for the moment.
Alhai Ibrahim narrated his side of the story thus:
“On the 22nd day of December 2021, I went to Ado Bayero Mall (Shoprite) to have a meeting with the manager of my client who is renting a space in the mall.
“On getting to the gate of the mall, I was stopped by some security personnel that comprise of private security men from Technocrime Security limited some policemen.
“They told me that I cannot go in with my motorcycle, that they only allow customers with cars in. They told me that only staff are allowed in with motorcycles.
“I explained to them that I was not a customer, as I was going there for official purpose because I am the one taking care of legal matters in African Anchor event hall, a tenant in the premises.
“Prior to the 22nd day of December 2021, a similar incident has happened when I wanted to go in. The security men told me that I could not go in through the gate after I had explained to them that I was there for official purpose. They told me that I had to go through the other gate. So, I went to the other gate and they directed back to the gate I had left.
“I was denied entrance after they had played around from one gate to the other. So, I kept my motorcycle outside and went in.
When I got inside the mall, I met their chief security, one Al-Hassan Audu, and explained my ordeal to him as he apologized and promised to address his men. He gave me his phone number to call him any time I come around and they refuse me entrance.
“On that fateful Wednesday, when the security men stopped me from going in after explaining to them who I was and what I was going in to do, I decided to call the chief security who had told me to call him anytime I am around and his men stopped me so that he could talk to them.
“When I brought my phone and was dialing his number, a policeman (mopol) came to where I was by the side of the road and attempted to take the ignition key of my motorcycle.
“I held my key and asked him why he wanted to remove it. The policeman slapped and I retaliated.
“All the security men, about ten or more started assaulting me. They dragged me to a room in the mall where they assaulted me and threatened to kill me.
One Inspector Ibrahim held my throat and pressed it so hard that I could not breathe for some time.
“He said he was going to kill me and nothing will happen. He boasted that he had killed more than ten persons before and nothing happened. He said I was lucky he was not on uniform and not holding riffle, he would have shot me dead and nothing will happen.
“They continued to assault me and gave me a black eye. Inspector Ibrahim was particularly aiming for my throat and eyes while assaulting me. Others used their gun buts in hitting me.
“These who participated in assaulting me are A. A. Audu, Inspector Ibrahim and Musa Adamu.
A management staff at the Shoprite, simply identified as Habiba said at the police division that the gate through which Alhaji Ibrahim was trying to get into their premises has been out of use for some time, blaming him for the assaults he received in the hands of security men.
The Ungogo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stood behind the victim, being its member. The secretary of the branch was at the Kwalli police division to ascertain the level of damage done to him.
Sources at the state police headquarters at Bompai and the AIG Zone One office along BUK Road told Online News that the policemen at Shoprite deliberately refused to listen to the advice of their legal officers on phone to desist from assaulting the victim.
Counsel to Alhaji Ibrahim, U.U. Eteng and U. U. Fari, said they are only waiting on the Ungogo branch of the NBA to submit its reports and recommendation before they decide the next line of action they will take.
Share your views on the story with Online News in the comments section below.
