Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

The supremacy battle between operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Nigeria Police took a twist in Osun State as the latter unleashed brutal force against personnel of NSCDC deployed to a residential estate in Osogbo.

It was gathered that a team of policemen in mufti with police jackets invaded Elizabeth’s estate in Osogbo on Tuesday night with a private vehicle to arrest a suspect living in the estate.

However, the NSCDC personnel deployed to the estate requested the identity of the said policemen, but they were infuriated and resorted to insulting the personnel.

They both exchanged verbal insults before the police operatives left the scene as they were not allowed access to the estate.

Findings revealed that the team returned to the estate the following day, Wednesday, October 25, 2024, with re-enforcement, call out the NSCDC personnel and thereafter an exchange of verbal insults before the team descended on him.

He was then dragged away from the scene in handcuffs after he was demobilized and assaulted by a team of police operatives.

When contacted, NSCDC spokesperson in the State, Kehinde Adeleke described the action of the policemen as barbaric and uncivilized.

“A disturbing incident of barbaric police brutality occurred on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, around 8 pm, at Elizabeth Estate in Osogbo, Osun State, a group of individuals claiming to be police officers in “ANKARA ” cloth with only jackets on top, drove recklessly into the estate which is secured by the personnel of NSCDC, with a private sienna vehicle, to purportedly arrest a suspect.

“The personnel of NSCDC on duty, as trained officers, requested for means of identification which the individuals who claimed to be policemen failed to provide. Instead, they resorted to intimidation. After they failed to identify themselves, they left the premises of the estate.

“The situation escalated the following day, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, when a group of police numbering about twenty(20) drove into the estate and descended on one NSCDC personnel, physically assaulting him and inflicting grievous bodily harm on him.

“The officer’s uniform was torn, he was brutalized beyond description, disarmed, handcuffed like a common criminal, and forcefully taken to Ataoja Division before being moved to the Police State Headquarters”.

She added that the effort to resolve the incident amicably and secure the release of the personnel by Osun NSCDC commandant, Michael Adaralewa proved abortive as the police insisted on keeping him in their cell at the command headquarters till Friday.

Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, in a statement, said the NSCDC personnel obstructed the police from performing their duty and assaulted two of the operatives, hence, they called for re-enforcement and ensured his arrest.

She said, “The Osun State Police Command wishes to inform the general public and set the record straight that: Policemen came from Oyo State on investigation activities to an Estate in Osogbo to arrest a suspected criminal, they met Civil defence personnel guarding the place who prevented them from arresting the criminal and in the process; beat-up and injured two police officers and deflated the tyres of their vehicle.

“The Policemen thereafter called for reinforcement from the nearest Division around the place. Upon arrival of the reinforcement, the Policemen were rescued and one of the Civil Defence personnel who assaulted the Police officers and prevented them from performing their lawful duty was arrested and taken to State CID for investigation”.

She added that an investigation is ongoing into the matter.