By Hussein J-Isah
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has commenced the trial of a Policeman who was accused of harassing a woman at night during a stop-and-search exercise being carried out at Galadimawa Roundabout in Abuja.
A trending video online displays a scene where a woman was seen claiming that the officer in question slapped her and released pepper spray on her face repeatedly during a routine stop-and-search on October 6, 2024, at the Galadimawa Roundabout.
“I didn’t do anything to these guys, I didn’t carry anything, I am not a criminal. They asked me to come down, I told them they could check my bag, but there was no need for me to step out. Then they started harassing me, sprayed pepper spray in my eyes three times, and slapped me,” the woman stated in a circulated video online.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of the FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh David in a statement via her X handle said: Police officer assigned to Galadimawa Roundabout for stop-and-search duties, who was seen harassing a woman at night on October 6, 2024, has been summoned. The victim has come forward and identified the officer involved. Disciplinary action and a trial have also commenced.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any police misconduct via our Public Complaint numbers: 09022222352, 08107314192.”
Meanwhile, few reactions had followed the step taken by the FCT Police Command, just as some Nigerians hailed the police action, others maintained indifference over the matter.
Habitatpoint expressed the confidence that the police would handle the matter in the best way possible.
According to another, simply identified as Jay: “Police is actually becoming our friends yea,but there is also need for most Nigerian to learn how to approach our police officers too,” while Folorunsho Olumide emphasized the need for necessary trainings and orientation for officers of the police force.
Real Courage reacted by saying that, “Well police is trying just some officers are just trying so hard to ternish the image of police.”
Kenturky said: “Unlike other (security) agencies that are fund of covering their erring officers, the Nigerian Police is always taking actions against their officers that default.
Others criticized the police for the bad conduct of their officers argued that they should be subjected to necessary examination to ascertain their fitness. “These people need mental validation and test at least twice yearly,” said Dava.
For Favour Esan, “There should be more complex disciplinary actions that will make this officers get scared… publishing them online and suspending them is not enough. They should be tried in the court of law and face jail terms for years with heavy fines.”
Rauf Adegboye described whatever action being taken as, “Scapegoat in the making… please flush the bad eggs among the force.”
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