Friday, 18 May 2012

Police torture FRSC official to death in Bayelsa

BARELY a month after a police officer (names withheld) was allegedly accused of gunning down an official of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), while celebrating the purchase of a car around Nikton road, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, another official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), identified as Bassey Nnoyo, had been allegedly tortured to death by officers of the state Anti-Robbery Squad.



The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, the Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered, was said to have thrown the state headquarters of the FRSC into mourning, on Wednesday, as the rank and file of the paramilitary agency clustered to discuss the death of Nnoyo.

Credible source informed the Nigerian Tribune that troubled ensued on Tuesday morning around Bayelsa State Secretariat Annex, when an unidentified FRSC official, who came for a programme from Sagbama Local Government unit, was trying to park his car inside the state office of the FRSC, adjacent to the state secretariat.

While waiting for another car to drive out of the road, a car allegedly driven by a police officer in mufti was hooting his horn for the FRSC official to give way, but the man declined, in his bid give way to the on-coming car.

The source said “as a result of the development, the policeman in mufti pulled the FRSC official out of his car and beat him mercilessly, a development which attracted his colleagues, who came out of their office to rescue him, thus leading to a free-for-all.”

According to the source, the policeman, when he sensed that he might be overpowered by the FRSC men, alerted the State Anti-Robbery Squad and about 10 policemen stormed the scene and started shooting indiscriminately.

Investigation revealed that some of the FRSC officials had to pull off their uniforms, with a view to hiding their identities, but the rampaging policemen caught up with Nnoyo and allegedly assaulted him before dragging him on the concrete road to their station for further beating.

Security source, who pleaded anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune that the Nnoyo, billed to proceed on retirement in November 2012, died in the course of torture by officers of the SARS.

When contacted on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe, who declined to confirm the development, however, said the matter had been resolved.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

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