“Man dragged by van in Benin was a suspected cultist” – Police claim
The Nigeria Police Force have claimed that the man handcuffed to a moving van and dragged by operatives of the Esigie Division in Benin-City, Edo state was a suspected cultist.
In a video that circulated online two days ago, a yet-to-be-identified man could be seen handcuffed to a police van.
His offence was unknown and witnesses claim the officers assaulted those who dared to query their actions.
There has been huge outrage against the police officers’ actions since the video of the incident went viral.
In its defence, the police has released a statement on Wednesday, in which it claimed it found “some quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and powder suspected to be cocaine” on the victim.
Abayomi Shogunle, an assistant commissioner of police, insisted that there was nowhere in the video that showed the victim being dragged by the police vehicle as insinuated.
Read the police statement:
“Preliminary #PCRRU investigation reveals that on Sunday 14.05.2017 at about 9:30 a.m., the Police at Esigie Division in Benin-City, Edo state received an information regarding congregation of suspected cultists in preparatory to the commissioning of a felony.
“Based on the information, police team was dispatched to the scene where two male persons were arrested while others took to their heels. Upon a search on the person of the suspect seen handcuffed to the vehicle in the video some quantity of weeds suspect to be Indian hemp and powder suspected to be cocaine were found on him. Both arrested suspects were then loaded into the patrol vehicle and secured accordingly to prevent escape during transportation to the Police station.
“At a point along Sopkonba Road, Benin-City a crowd tried to prevent the free passage of the patrol vehicle transporting the suspects. That in the process one of the suspects (one seen in the video) tried to escape by jumping off the back of the open pick-up patrol van but was restrained by the handcuff attaching him to the vehicle. A reinforcement was called and the suspects were eventually taken to the station.
“The Nigeria Police Force under IGP Ibrahim Idris is determined to ensure that rights of every suspect is protected at all times. The public is assured that proven case of abuse of powers any police officer(s) would attract sanctions.
“As we await the outcome of the investigations by AIG Zone 5 Benin-City, members of the public are enjoined to always cooperate with Nigeria Police Force units as police officers are out to ensure protection of lives and properties.”
