Published 24th Apr, 2023

By Daniel Ojukwu

Policemen attached to Ijede Police Station in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have arrested Segun Akile, a physically-challenged commercial tricycle driver.

Karima Adedapo, one of Akile’s passengers, told FIJ that the policemen stopped the driver on Monday morning and ordered him to pay a ₦100 levy.

The passenger added that the policemen also gave the driver a condition that he would only be allowed to leave their presence once the sum was paid.

When Akile refused to pay them, a scuffle ensued.

“He told the policemen, who were about three, that he had only temporarily left his ‘normal route’ to take us to our location. In truth, that was not his route. He only offered to take us to our destinations from our gym where we had gone for a physical exercise. We, his passengers, were three,” Adedapo said.

“Rather than allow us leave, the policemen insisted on collecting the ₦100 from him.

“When he said he did not have any money to give to them, they physically assaulted him. They dragged the driver down from the tricycle, forcing his crutches out of his grip.

“Since he could no longer stand on his own, the driver lost balance and soon, we found him rolling in a nearby mud with the policemen, just as he struggled to free himself from their continued assault.”

Akile’s passengers watched helplessly for minutes as the policemen continued to assault him in the mud.

The passenger added that the policemen eventually dragged the driver to their station and would accuse him of being a suspected cultist.

“While at the station, the officers changed the narrative and began making derogatory remarks about the tattoos on Akile’s body,” Adedapo said.

“They later accused him of being a cultist and asked me to leave their station. But I refused to leave and insisted on seeing the DPO of the station.

“One of the officers then told me that their DPO was not around. Akile is still being held at the station as we speak.”

FIJ called the Lagos Police Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) for comments on the matter, but all four phone lines attached to the unit were not reachable.

When FIJ phoned Sunday Oluwadare, the DPO of the station, he requested for this reporter to physically appear at his station before he would consider issuing a response. After making this statement, he hung up.

FIJ also placed several phone calls to Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos State police spokesperson, but they were not answered. A text message sent to him had also not been responded to as of press time.

Oluwadare would later call back to request for Adedapo’s presence at the station.

“Please, tell the lady passenger to come back to our station. When she comes, we will talk,” said Oluwadare.

Ojukwu is a reporter with FIJ in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

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