News

Assult On Members: Edo NUJ, NBA Demand Apology From Police Command

Published

5 years ago

May 22, 2020

Editor

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, and the Nigerian Bar Association in the state have demanded unreserved apology from Edo State Police Command on the assult unleash on the members of the two unions and a council to the state by the officers of the command.

Mr. Lucky Isibor, a journalist and Matthew Edaghese Esq, were reportedly assulted on Monday, May 19 at Urokpota Mobile Court by one Sgt Agatha, and DSP Imoekeme Isa, when the duo made an attempt to rescue state’s counsel, Ama-Iyamu (female) from the two police officers whom they were assulting.

Report says trouble started when Counsel to the state (female lawyer) tried to check excesses of DSP Isa on his indiscriminate arrests and raids on food items against the Attorney General’s earlier warning against it.

Irked by the lawyer’s caution, DSP Isa reportedly attacked the female lawyer which prompted Mr. Isibor, journalist attached to Edo NBA mobile court monitoring team to intervene and was consequently rough handled and beaten along with Edaghase Esq at the mobile court.

According to report, it took the intervention of some good spirited individuals to rescue Isibor, Edaghase and the state Counsel from the rampaging policemen.

Addressing newsmen at a NUJ/NBA joint briefing, Chairman, Edo NUJ, Roland Osakwe, said the briefing became necessary as a result of rising human rights abuse by security agencies.

Describing the urgly incident as affront on the NUJ and the NBA, and an attack on the system set up by the government, the NUJ chairman demanded unreserved apology from the State Police Command on before Tuesday next week, as he threatened that legal action would be taken if such is not done.

“Since the incident happened on Monday, we have not heard anything from the Command. Even when they have been informed of the incident. We want to use this opportunity to call on the Command that we demand an unreserved apology from them within now and next week Tuesday. Failure to do so, we will not hesitate to take to the other option which we know we can also use in seeking our redress.

“These police officers: DSP Isa and Sgt Agatha should not be allowed to be in the police force because this is not an era of Banana republic where anybody choses what he or she wants to do. In fact, they are bringing shame to the police force”, Osakue said.

In his part, chairman, NBA, Benin Branch, Collins Ogiegbean Esq, described the two officers as “habitual persons who have continued to abuse the system.”

Ogiegbean noted that the members who were assulted by these two officers were not the first victim, adding that market women and the poor are their regular victims.

He said, “DSP Isa and Sgt Agatha seem to have a long history. In fact, you can call them habitual persons who have continued to abuse the system; they have abuse the system habitually. They are known for this act.

“The Journalist and NBA member that were assulted are not their first victim. In fact, the market women, and the very poor people are their regular victim. They go to the market place to carry what they call perishable, and they bring it to the mobile court and leave the perishable to perish.”

Describing free press and fearless Bar as sin qua non to certainty in any society, the NBA chairman called for sanction of these two officers from the state Police Command.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.