Last Saturday, men of local vigilantes and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly brutalised a police officer, Sulaiman Umar in Bauchi metropolis.
Umar told WikkiTimes the irate NSCDC officer identified as ASC Hassan Usman and his team from the state vigilantes group — Baushe Hunters — brutalised and left him even after identifying himself as a police officer.
The victim explained he was driving along Nasarawa Gate when their convoy was intercepted by a tricyclist.
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“That was when I diverted my car and they started insulting me. As we drove further, they stood in my way and we both parked,” Umar narrated. “The NSCDC officer, ASC Hassan just came out from their Hilux vehicle and started flogging me with a cane even after I showed him my ID card and a pistol with me.”
“His team members could not wait, they continued dragging, beating me and matching me on the ground.”
Sulaiman explained that one of the vigilantes’ members under the watch of the NSCDC officer used a gun wood (gun butt) on him.
He said the suspects fled when the villagers trooped out to challenge them for their wrongdoing before he was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital by their boss Umar Shayi.
Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, spokesperson for Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident, noting that the matter is under investigation and anyone confirmed guilty will face the wrath of the law.
“We received the report of criminal conspiracy and assault, thuggery, on the 14 January,” Wakil said. “The commissioner of police has directed for discrete investigation and the investigation is in progress. And anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law.”
But NSCDC described the allegation against his officer as baseless and uncalled for.
Ibrahim Abubakar Gafdo, spokesman for NSCDC, Bauchi Command told WikkiTimes that the agency’s officer was only attached to the convoy of the governor’s adviser and intervened in the faceoff “to rescue the victim.”
He said the police officer had intervened when the cyclist intercepted the convoy.
“The police officer intervened and started raining insults on them. Then the men of Umaru Shayi (Baushe hunters) reprised and started beating him. That was the time our officer ASC Hassan intervened and rescued the police officer,” the spokesman claimed “The allegation against our officer is not true.”
