Banker loses leg in police cross-fire

he called it friendly fire anyway

A banker, Mr. Pius Effiong, who was injured in a cross-fire between two police teams, has threatened to sue the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly abandoning him at the National Hospital, Abuja.


Effiong’s left leg was amputated as a result of gunshot injuries he suffered when two teams of policemen engaged themselves in a shoot-out in error while attempting to rescue a kidnapped victim in March 2010.


Six police officers were also wounded during the incident with a few of them losing their eyes and sense of hearing. All of them are still receiving treatment in a hospital.


Effiong, 33, said that he was on his way to work when he was accosted by some policemen and arrested on suspicion that he was a kidnapper. He added that he showed the policemen his identity card and explained to them that he was an employee of Think Microfinance Bank Limited, Abuja, but they ignored him.


He said he was beaten by the policemen, who bundled him into their unmarked black Toyota vehicle.


“As the policemen were driving away, another group of plain-cloth policemen blocked the vehicle and shot at it, thereby injuring everyone in the car. My legs and shoulders were shattered,” he said.


Effiong’s lawyer, Afam Osigwe of Law Forte Chambers, said his client was putting on the bank’s promotional T-shirt, while his identity card hung on his neck when the incident happened.


The lawyer added that when the second group of the policemen realised their error, they took Effiong and the injured policemen to Asokoro District Hospital and later to the National Hospital.


He said during treatment, Effiong’s leg was amputated from the knee due to the damage inflicted by the gunshot.


Osigwe said as a result of the long period of absence from work due to hospitalisation, Effiong lost his job with the bank.


He alleged that the police refused to contribute further to his treatment despite several letters written to them by Effiong’s relations, lawyers and erstwhile employers.


“The permanent disability suffered by Effiong has caused him the loss of amenities of life, while he still suffers from excruciating recurring pains from the injuries,” Osigwe added.


But the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, on Sunday said Effiong was not arrested, but was hit by stray bullets during the shoot-out between the policemen who were attempting to rescue a kidnapped victim.


He said the police had spent millions of naira on the victim “to the point of taking him abroad for further treatment,” stressing that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haruna John, and other senior officers had visited the banker in the hospital to show their support.


Jimoh contended that instead of going to court, Effiong should channel his grievances to the police authorities through the officer that was attached to him.


He said, “We did not abandon Effiong. We have spent so much money on him. We have spent millions of naira on his hospitalisation, but if he has any complaint, he should channel it to the authorities through the officer attached to him.


“The incident that occurred affected six of our men and a few of them lost their eyes and sense of hearing and they are still being hospitalised. We are doing our best to take care of all of them. These kind of things happen all over the world, even in the military; it is a friendly fire.”