By TONY EDIKE
ENUGU—A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Wilfred Ugwu is now lying critically ill at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu after he was allegedly tortured by some soldiers from 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu who prevented the arrest of one of their colleagues for a drug related offence.
Vanguard gathered that the soldier, whose name and rank could not be ascertained, was in mufti at the time he was arrested on June 30, 2012 while smoking Indian hemp with other suspects at Ugwogo Housing Estate, Abakpa Nike, Enugu by a team of policemen from Abakpa Police Division led by DSP Ugwu.
Ugwu, who is the Divisional Crime Officer for Abakpa Division, acting on a tip-off, led the police team to the hideout where the soldier and the other suspects were smoking Indian hemp and arrested them.
It was gathered that the soldier resisted after identifying himself as a military man. Sources said the soldier immediately contacted some of his colleagues at the Abakpa military barracks on phone, asking them to come to his rescue and within few minutes some soldiers armed with rifles arrived the scene. It was also gathered that the soldiers attempted to whisk their arrested colleague away but the policemen refused.
According to an eye witness who spoke on condition of anonymity, "The police officer (DCO) led a team of policemen to a joint where people are smoking Indian hemp. A man was arrested smoking Indian hemp with some other persons. The DCO who was performing his duty ended up being attacked by soldiers who wanted to free the man arrested with Indian hemp, who later identified himself as a soldier.
"In the process the DCO was badly beaten with rifle butt and fist blows until he lost consciousness. He suffered a dislocated jaw. He is currently on admission at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu where he is being treated of the injuries inflicted on him," said the sources.
Efforts to speak with the police officer on his hospital bed proved abortive as the nurses denied Vanguard access to him.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu said the command was aware of the development, adding that the matter was already being handled.
Vanguard Nigeria