The
Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday paraded 12 suspects in connection with
the torture of three women at Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo,
Lagos State.
The suspects, said to be members of the
Oodua’s People’s Congress, had reportedly tortured the three women last
year for allegedly stealing pepper.
Following the outcry that greeted the
video of the incident which surfaced on the Internet, the Inspector
General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, ordered the Federal Special
Anti-Robbery Squad to take over the investigation.
The detectives were said to have been led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, FSARS, Chris Ezike.
Force Police Public Relations Officer,
CSP Frank Mba, who paraded the suspects at FSARS office in Adeniji
Adele, Lagos, said, “Twelve persons have been clearly implicated in this
investigation which began with the reconstruction of the video.
“On February 13, 2014, the FSARS
conducted an identification parade in which the victims positively
identified 10 of the suspects. The victims were also able to attach
roles played in the incident to each of the suspects identified. Items
recovered during a search of the suspects’ houses include a dane gun.”
The leader of the suspects, identified as Isiaka Waidi, the Baba Oja (market leader) of the market was said to have extorted the sum of N50,000 from the victims to secure their freedom.
Mba said, “The police have been able to establish a prima facie case
against the suspects who will be facing multiple charges of conspiracy,
assault, causing bodily harm and murder. Waidi will in addition face
charges for extortion.
“Four suspects are still at large and
they have been declared wanted. They are Tinrin, who allegedly stripped
the victims naked and captured the torture on video; Otekpa Olurantin,
Akeem and Micheal Abolore.
“Nigerians are advised to approach the
nearest police station for proper background checks of any vigilante
they employ. The IG has ordered for the proper auditing of neighbourhood
watch and vigilance groups members in line with international best
practices.”
Director of the Office of the Public
Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, said the
agency began working on the case after receiving a petition from Women
Arise for Change Initiative, a civil rights organisation.
She said, “Supported by the Lagos State
House of Assembly, we were able to get witnesses who supplied valuable
information which was handed over to the police. The witnesses have been
in protective custody ever since.”
President for Women Arise, Dr. Joe
Okei-Odumakin, urged people with useful information on the suspects, who
have been declared wanted, to come forward.
She said, “When we saw the video on
March 8, 2013, we met a brick wall at Ejigbo, while trying to
investigate. It was heartwarming when the IG directed the FSARS to take
over the case.
“The victims can now attest to the fact that no matter the poverty, one can get justice. Jungle justice does not pay.”
Waidi, however, denied that he was at the scene of the incident.
He said, “When I got to the scene that
day, it was already over. I was only told that some people had tortured
the three women. I fell ill and travelled. By the time I returned, I was
surprised when the community ruler told me that I was wanted by the
police.”
But 12-year-old victim, Nike, who was
present at the parade with her mother, Mrs. Ajoke Agomo, also a victim,
refuted Waidi’s claims.
She said, “Waidi brought the men that
beat us up. They beat up my mother and stripped her naked. I told them
that my sister just joined us from the village, but they beat her up.
They also insisted that my father must refund the money for the pepper
and after that, told our landlord to evict us.”
The last victim, Nike’s half sister, Juliana Agomo, was said to have died as a result of the torture.