Police to begin trial of officers who assaulted motorist in Port Harcourt

Three police officers engaged in a Sunday assault on a driver in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, have had their identities made public by the Nigerian Police Force.

It stated that the three police officers, named Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari, Sergeant Friday Obaka, and Inspector Adejoh Siaka, would shortly go on trial.

The arrest of Sergeants Abdullahi Badamasi, Isah Danladi, and Inspector Dahiru Shuaibu, who were shown in a popular video firing into the air in Kano State, was also announced by FHQ at the same time.

The FHQ had reportedly instructed the Rivers cops seen in a viral video abusing a male driver to be arrested.

In the footage, one of the officers is seen using a stick to beat a man, then repeatedly slapping him before ordering him into a car.

In an incident that occurred on Sunday at Emouha Junction, East/West Road in Port Harcourt, one other cop cocked his gun and forcibly pushed other passengers to their cars.

But, in response to public criticism, the police authorities denounced the policemen's behaviour and added that it didn't reflect the NPF or the way things are done in the Force.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced their names at the FHQ on Tuesday. They are Inspector Adejoh Siaka, Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari.

Adejobi, who posted a picture of the three policemen on his Twitter handle, on Tuesday, wrote: “Inspector Adejoh Siaka, Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari from Rivers State. These are the men who slapped a man on the road in Rivers.

“They reported at the Force Headquarters today. Trial will soon commence. We will update you as soon as possible. Thanks.”

Okon Effiong, the commissioner of police for Rivers State, had earlier commanded the officers' immediate arrest.

In a statement released by the Command's spokesman, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who stated that the officers had been identified, Effiong gave the order.

Also, The PUNCH had claimed that while accompanying a popular Kano singer to his car during a ceremony, the officers assigned to him were seen firing into the air with their pistols and AK-47 rifles.

The officers reported to the FHQ for trial on Tuesday, according to the Force spokesman, Adejobi, via his Twitter account.

Posting a photo of the suspects, Adejobi said, “These are the men caught on video firing into the air in Kano, they reported today, Tuesday, April 11 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for trial. The trial is ongoing. We will update the public as soon as the trial is over.”

Source