SIR, I must confess to you how conflicting my mind was penning this article. Firstly, hoping that Justice, which every human treasure, may finally come my way after a vain search for eleven (11) years. And secondly, but sadly, my predicament seems to be a lost struggle given a very corrupt, decadent, brutal and unprofessional that is the Nigerian Police. The police are notorious for protecting their rogue elements. Thirdly, your media team may not allow you see the article if published. Below is my sad story:
What is frustrating to most of us who were victims of police brutality is that the report of the panel is yet to be implemented fully. The legal department of the National Human Rights Commission, on enquiry, told me some of our cases were referred to the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Inspector General of Police to be treated administratively. It is apparent that the two offices have suppressed the report and refused to act on it. Many Nigerians, especially those of us innocent citizens brutalised by the police feel let-down by the Nigerian State.
On 15th April, 2013, Inspector Ibrahim Agu led a team of policemen from Abuja along with Inspector Sani Daura (now retired), Corporals Gambo and Yabbo to arrest me in Maiduguri on the allegation that I was a Boko Haram leader. They arrested me in my office at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. They searched my official car and house before taking me to the notorious SARS office in Maiduguri. He showed me a handwritten petition by one Bashir Goni that I was a Boko Haram kingpin who has donated 200 AK 47 guns and recruited over 600 members into the organisation. Because Ibrahim was hired to do a hatched job, he unprofessionally hurriedly accepted the job, surely for pecuniary reasons. At SARS’ office, I was harassed and intimidated by Ibrahim Agu and his boys.
Inspector Ibrahim Agu had no court warrant to arrest me. The so-called petition had no sworn court affidavit to authenticate its legality, and apparently, there was no adverse intelligence/security report against me to warrant my arrest. I was taken to Abuja where I spent three nights at SARS facility.
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On the third day, my health condition deteriorated (on arrest I told Ibrahim that I was sick and volunteered to pay for our flight to Abuja, which he refused) and I was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja closely guarded by Corporal Gambo and Yabbo like an armed robber. Since then I have been on high blood pressure medication and had a lung infection while in detention. A stubborn infection that persisted for about two years before Allah’s mercy cured it.
I was released on bail. After about two months of inconveniences reporting to Ibrahim Agu, he said investigation has showed that I was not a Boko Haram member and that I am free and should stop reporting to him. And that arrogant, vicious, corrupt and rogue police called Ibrahim Agu thought that was the end of the story. I refused to let go. I didn’t even get an apology from the police. Ibrahim Agu was not held accountable for arresting and detaining an innocent citizen for three days in SARS facility.
To add salt to injury, he happily pocketed the Two Hundred and twenty thousand naira (N220, 000) he collected as a bribe from my people who were desperate and worried about my detention and health condition.
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My search for justice has been very frustrating but I am committed to getting it! On July 25,2016, I wrote a petition to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, titled: “Illegal Arrest And Detention By The Police (Task Force On Anti-Terrorism And Heinous Crimes)” which I copied the Inspector General of Police and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). All the three petitions were effectively suppressed. The suppression of the petitions was not unexpected given the rot and corruption in our state institutions.
With the setting up of the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation Against SARS by the Buhari administration, I submitted a petition on my illegal arrest and detention by Inspector Ibrahim Agu. I was invited to appear before the Panel along with him.
Sir, I sincerely pray you will reopen my case so that I get the Justice I deserve. Ibrahim Agu could not even defend his unprofessional act before the Investigative Panel. He and his gang must be held accountable for their unprofessional conduct which led to my illegal detention, psychological torture of three days detention, illness and reputational damage.
What is frustrating to most of us who were victims of police brutality is that the report of the panel is yet to be implemented fully. The legal department of the National Human Rights Commission, on enquiry, told me some of our cases were referred to the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Inspector General of Police to be treated administratively. It is apparent that the two offices have suppressed the report and refused to act on it. Many Nigerians, especially those of us innocent citizens brutalised by the police feel let-down by the Nigerian State.
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Last year, on 4th October, 2023, the Daily Trust carried the open letter/appeal I wrote to the National Human Rights Commission titled: “NHRC, Justice Has Eluded Me.” The Commission took no action just as it suppressed my earlier petition in 2016. The institutions of government ridden in corruption and ineptitude are no longer responsive to the statutory roles of their being. I recall my article titled: “When I was a Boko Haram member” carried in Daily Trust on 7th July, 2020 which was widely read and generated sympathy for my ordeal by Nigerians did not elicit any reaction from all the institutions mentioned above.
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Sir, I sincerely pray you will reopen my case so that I get the Justice I deserve. Ibrahim Agu could not even defend his unprofessional act before the Investigative Panel. He and his gang must be held accountable for their unprofessional conduct which led to my illegal detention, psychological torture of three days detention, illness and reputational damage.
This Bello Turji called Ibrahim Agu has no business in the Nigerian Police Force but sadly, he told the Independent Investigative Panel he was no longer an Inspector but promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police. We, his victims weep for this country!
Mustapha Bukar Sabo writes from Old GRA, Gombole Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State. He can be contacted via: bukarmustaphasabo@yahoo.com and 0809 464 5050
