Several residents of an Adamawa community have got the shock of their lives after police stormed their abode to arrest them for talking to journalists.
Up to about six residents of Jimeta area in Adamawa State were arrested on Tuesday after they spoke to The Punch reporters about how some cops attached to the Doubeli Police Division tortured a resident, Kabiru Ahmed.
The residents, identified as Ahmad Aliyu, Nibras Mamman, Muhammed Sulei, Abdulrahman Nasir, Kabir Mubi and Umar Baba, were arrested around 5:30pm on Tuesday at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, where they had gone to visit the victim.
The cops were said to have been annoyed by The reporters publication on Tuesday. According to reporters, it had earlier been reported that policemen from the station raided Zanrada Street on May 16, and arrested a youth, who was found with cannabis.
The policemen wanted to arrest some other youths, who were without cannabis when Ahmed, a National Diploma holder in criminal management, challenged them, insisting that “innocent” persons should not be apprehended.
He was said to have been whisked away in a tricycle to the station and allegedly tortured till he fainted. It was said that the policemen contacted Ahmed’s mother around 12am the following day, informing her that he had been admitted to hospital.
A resident and activist, Adamu Ibrahim, had urged the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and the state Commissioner of Police, Ghazzali Mohammed, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice was done.
Ibrahim told us on Wednesday that the six residents were arrested on the FMC premises immediately they left the ward where Ahmed was being treated.
He said,
Quote
“Around 5pm yesterday (Tuesday), 14 of us went to visit Kabiru (Ahmed) at the hospital. He was able to recognise us but he could not talk. We donated the little amount we contributed to him and left the ward at about 5.30pm.
“A friend left to visit another patient in the hospital and begged us to wait for him. I was hanging around the premises while the others were at the point where we parked our bus. Then, about 10 policemen in mufti came and asked, ‘Where is Adamu Ibrahim?’ They did not see me, but they arrested the six residents.
“A friend called the Police Public Relations Officer and informed him of the development, but he said he was not aware. I think it was your (PUNCH’s) report that prompted their action.”
“A friend left to visit another patient in the hospital and begged us to wait for him. I was hanging around the premises while the others were at the point where we parked our bus. Then, about 10 policemen in mufti came and asked, ‘Where is Adamu Ibrahim?’ They did not see me, but they arrested the six residents.
“A friend called the Police Public Relations Officer and informed him of the development, but he said he was not aware. I think it was your (PUNCH’s) report that prompted their action.”
One of the parents of those arrested, Mallam Ali Mamman, said he went to the station but was not allowed to speak with his son, Nibras, and his friends.
Mamman said he decided to report the case to the state police commissioner on Wednesday after his attempts to secure their bail failed, adding that they were later released around 12pm on the order of the CP.
He said,
Quote
“The policemen did not allow me to have access to my son and refused to tell me the offence he and his friends committed. On Wednesday, the CP called the policemen to bring them. He asked the policemen and the children what happened.
“The CP asked why the arrest was made but they said they only invited them to the station to gather information. He said what they did was wrong and ordered that they should be released without delay. They have all been released.”
“The CP asked why the arrest was made but they said they only invited them to the station to gather information. He said what they did was wrong and ordered that they should be released without delay. They have all been released.”
Calls made to the line of the state police spokesperson, Othman Abubakar, were not answered.
However, he sent a “Not true” response to a text message sent to his phone.
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