***victim crying of excruciating pains on hospital bed
There are uproar in Eket local government area as concerned citizens reacted to the brutality meted on an okada rider, Aniedi Bassey Samuel, by Policemen from Eket Division.
The victim was beaten to a pulp by about five Policemen, using baton while some kicked him with their legs, hit his chest and they finally thrown him into the gutter, soaked in dirty water while his clothes was torn when they dragged him on tarred road, causing serious serious hold-up opposite the Eket Police Station at Uqua.
Narrating his ordeal on hospital bed, Aniedi said he was on bike to pick a passenger around 4pm when a policeman approached him from behind, removed his key and asked for his particulars, he told him that he cannot move around with particulars under this rainy season that the particulars are at home. He told him to wait that he will go and bring the particulars, but he bluntly told him whether it is the particulars he will eat.
“I waited to carry a passenger who was going towards James Town junction about 4:00pm, and immediately a police officer removed my key, and pushed my bike inside station. I asked him why he collected my bike and he said I should go and bring my particulars. I told him, I don’t go about with it because of the rain.
“He then asked me to give N10,000 and get my bike, but I argued that I haven’t committed any crime. I told them to return my bike, but one of them kicked me and started beating me. QIU Team from the Division, while driving out didn’t ask me what happened, they started beating me all over again with baton, dragged me into the gutter, torn my clothes.
“They hit me on the chest before I know it, more than five of them came heavily on me, drag me on the tarred road, tear my clothes and left me on the road till I become unconscious. When bike people who saw how I was treated begin to gather, I was dragged inside the station. They opened teargas canister and I inhaled the smoke since I couldn’t stand up before the DPO arrived the station. I was taken to the hospital for treatment by the Chairman, Cyclist Union in Eket, Mr. Aniefiok Ntekim.
He continued, “I am in pains and cannot sit down or stand up. My shoulder and chest is paining me. I can’t walk or stand up.” The victim was guided by the mother and family members to sit on bed to receive treatment.
Reacting to this brutality, a veteran Journalist, Assam Abia, said, “Some policemen in Eket are begining to constitute themselves into a 𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙤 𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙖𝙯𝙞. They lay prey at junctions, most times on mufty, and jump at innocent motorcyclists, to forcefully extort money from them. Uqua junction in Eket has become a farm for some policemen. Every morning they will put on their farming uniform and cluster at the ever busy junction to harvest (steal) crops, 𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙟𝙚, from where they did not plant. This particular set of policemen usually do not wear uniform. They will openly intimidate and ensure that their victim, okada man, who is always afraid of going to the station with them, parts with at least one thousand Naira, for commiting no traffic offense or criminal act.”
The veteran Journalist popularly known as the Pen Oracle called on the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayilara Waheed, to call his men in Eket to order so as not to ignite another #Endsars protest because of Police brutality.
“Police are supposed to be our friend. They should allow motorcyclists in Eket to breath. Some of the 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙙𝙖 𝙢𝙚𝙣 on the streets are University graduates who have refused to become the devil’s workshop. They prefer to hussle instead of cutting corners for a living. A stich in time saves nine,” Abia advised.
The Personal Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Ubong Creativity said, “A very sympathetic situation. I just visited the guy at the hospital bed and must say that the perpetrator of this bastardly act must be identified and punished accordingly. How do someone who is earning monthly salary just removed someone key and asked him to give you N10,000 and when he didn’t know his offense, you started hitting him and your people using baton to beat him everywhere. The CP must investigate this case and the perpetrators must be sanctioned.”
Dan Ebitu in his reaction noted that l, “The duty of police is to protect life and property not to brutalize the people they are meant to protect.”
David Ekpe said, “The commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom State should not underrate the peaceful disposition of Eket people. When that young man dies, that is when the police will know that we are warriors. God will definitely punish all the policemen who extort money from innocent people. It will not be well with them.”
God’swill Ikouwem wrote, “Truth be told. There are places in Akwa ibom state that can not condone the excesses of this men in black. You can’t try this in a place like Oron and still wear that uniform and walk on the road. Eket has been the most peaceful LGA in Akwa ibom state and I appreciate the youths for this. But the police shouldn’t take this peaceful disposition of eket youths as cowardice.”
“They take us as cowards, one day we will end it for them,” said Peter Alfred.
Samuel Ekpe while reacting to the issue said, “We are facing same within Afaha Eket secondary school gate, another police hunting spot.The pretentious peaceful stupid attitudes of Eket resident is getting to their throats, there must be who to stop this menace.”
Residents are calling on the Commissioner of Police to investigate the case, identify the culprits and punish them accordingly to serve as deterrent to other recalcitrant men in the force.
