Pandemonium broke out, Monday, in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, as soldiers attacked and injured police officers from Delta State Police Command, who were on escort duty with the state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu.
The soldiers beat a police corporal, who drove one of the police vehicles, to pulp for allegedly blaring siren in the premises of the Warri North Local Government Council, which is close to a military outpost.
The corporal fainted because of the severe beating and was rushed to hospital for medical attention.
At press time, junior police police officers were spoiling for a showdown with soldiers in the state, saying it has become a tradition for soldiers to attack police officers in the state without justifiable reason.
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed to Vanguard when contacted, saying the soldiers accused the police officers of blaring siren inside the secretariat of the council.
He said: “It is sheer brutality. I have reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police and contacted army authorities in the state, but they said they did not authorise the assault.
“They told us that there is no bad blood, but there is bad blood. Why did they attack fellow uniformed men in such a manner in the course of their duty? We are making a formal report on the incident.
“My stand is that the soldiers responsible for this attack should be fished out and made to face the music.”
A source who spoke to Vanguard said: “The police officers from the B’ Operations Department of the Delta State Police Command were on escort duty with the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu. It was an empowerment programme for the less privileged by the state government and because she was carrying some money for the programme, they requested police escort.
The frog jump
“As it is usual on such occasion, the siren was on when they entered the premises of Warri North Local Government Coucil and about eight soldiers came from a nearby outpost and asked the police driver, Corporal Ekome, to frog-jump.
“The police officer that led the team came to tell the soldiers that they should stop the confrontation, but the soldiers attacked him, seized his rifle and tore the button on his uniform.
“With the atmosphere charged, more soldiers joined their colleagues and insisted that the police driver must frog jump, which he resisted.
“The soldiers descended on him, ignoring the appeal from other police officers to stop creating a bad impression of Nigeria security officials in the eyes of the public.
“Some of the policemen wanted to retaliate, but were prevailed upon by the crowd, which watched the show of shame with dismay.
“The commissioner was shocked by the incident as she stood watching without knowing what to make out of the ugly show of power.”
A junior police officer said: “We are waiting to know what the Commissioner of Police and others will do on this matter. If they sweep it under the carpet, I can assure you that we will attack soldiers in isolated places in the state because this is own is getting too much.
“Come to think of it, the job of internal security is that of the police. If not overzealousness, what is wrong in the police blaring siren in the premises of a local government council? Is that a reason for soldiers to attack policemen?”
Read more: Vanguard Newspapers
let’s wait for what those OGAS at the top will do
let’s wait for what OGAS at the top will do
dat is their level of understanding. I can say those solders are iletrate day feel very pumpus nd de dirty kacky decieved them
@ibrahim umar u must be a mad man for u insulting a military personel, why don’t u go call yur generation 2 go fight the terrorist insurgent, if anything happen in the country who is dealin with it da soldier, why don’t u go call police for da terroristz??? Asshole
It is right wat happen between soldr nd police corpral so police wil keep away 4rom soldr dat is it
The high level of illiteracy in the nigerian army is the reason why the always behave like animals,its uncalled for,they always exercised their power where policemen are,I knw very well how soldier always runaway frm jst mere treat of the boko harram in d north,recently,a coloniel in the nigerian army ran and left his men in d bokoharram premises resulting to the death fifteen soldiers,four of their vehicles seized along with their arms and armmunitions,they should care for their wards,coz mst of their wives ar fucking other men. instead of hunting d policemen,its high time they respect their self,their uniforms and human beings.
As a bloody civilian,I no that soldies are more discipline than police,u can see a police men smoking and drinking in a getto with area boys with his uniform,which is rear with soldies,infact I have went to a club where a police man was dance seriously with his riffle,loaded, police men will arrest prostutude sleep with then, which army can never do, police men are well no for corruption,arrest innocent people to make money, so army are well educate and dicsipline than blackis.
The police man formble,is he feeling big by refuse to frog jump,I think nemesis has catch up with them,here is the acid test of what the police is doing to innocent civilians,the soldier should have break their legs one after the other.
Why should the police blare their siren when not attending to emergencies? Now, this fools know what it feels like to be bullied.
I think u posted that unjst comment of urs sentimentally,and also according to ur level of understandin,coz I’m sure,if u had gt education,u wld hav knw the reason why they blare d siren.since u dnt knw,think its better if I let u knw,ITS BCOS THEY ARE CARRING A HUGE AMMOUNT OF MONEY MEANT FOR POVERTY ALLIVIATION,and the siren was on befor they got to the local govt council.