NSCDC Personnel Suffer Police Brutality, Assault, Unlawful Detention

A disturbing incident of alleged police brutality took place on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 8 p.m. in Elizabeth Estate, Osogbo, Osun State. According to reports, a group claiming to be police officers entered the estate in a private Sienna vehicle, dressed in “ANKARA” fabric with only jackets on top. They reportedly drove recklessly into the estate, which is secured by personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, ostensibly to apprehend a suspect.

When NSCDC personnel on duty, acting within their professional protocols, requested identification from these individuals, they allegedly refused to provide any credentials. Instead, they attempted to intimidate the NSCDC officers. Unable to confirm their identity, the NSCDC personnel asked the intruders to leave the premises, which they did.

The situation escalated the following day, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. A larger group, reportedly around 20 police officers, returned to the estate, forcibly confronting an NSCDC officer. According to a statement by ASC Kehinde Adeleke, Civil Defence Public Relations Officer, Osun State Command, the officers assaulted the NSCDC personnel, inflicting serious bodily harm. A video attached to the statement shows the officer being disarmed, handcuffed, and his uniform torn. He was then allegedly taken first to the Ataoja Division and later moved to the Police State Headquarters.

Efforts to resolve the issue were made by Dr. Michael Adaralewa, the Commandant of NSCDC in Osun State, who sent a team of senior officers to the Police Headquarters to seek the officer’s release. However, the police reportedly refused, alleging that the NSCDC personnel had deflated their vehicle’s tires, a claim that NSCDC officials contested. When pressed for further details, the police could not clarify how the vehicle left the scene if it was indeed immobile.

Despite assurances from the police that the detained NSCDC officer would be released upon verification of his identity, he was held until Friday, October 25, 2024. The officer reportedly endured further mistreatment while in custody.

In response, Dr. Adaralewa called for a thorough investigation and urged that those responsible be held accountable. “We demand that there be no sacred cows in this matter, and we will not allow it to be swept under the rug,” he stated.