Inspector Patrick, a serving officer of the Nigerian Police Force, has shared a heart-wrenching account of his ordeal in the hands of his colleagues. The inspector was falsely accused of being a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group in Nigeria, and subsequently subjected to torture and 11 months of unlawful detention.
Patrick’s nightmare began in Anambra State, where he was serving as a police inspector. He was arrested by a team of police officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and accused of being an IPOB member. Despite his protests of innocence, Patrick was taken into custody and subjected to severe torture.
The inspector recounted his experience, saying, “I was beaten mercilessly, and they used all sorts of instruments to torture me. They said I was a member of IPOB, and that I was responsible for the killing of police officers in the state. I told them I knew nothing about it, but they didn’t listen.”
Patrick’s detention was marked by inhumane conditions, including being kept in a cramped and dirty cell without access to basic amenities. He was also denied medical attention, despite suffering from injuries sustained during his torture.
The inspector’s family was not spared the trauma, as they were also harassed and intimidated by the police. Patrick’s wife was forced to flee their home, and his children were left without parental care for several months.
After 11 months of detention, Patrick was finally released, but not before being forced to sign a confessional statement admitting to crimes he did not commit. The inspector has since been reinstated to his position, but the experience has left him traumatized.
Patrick’s story highlights the systemic failures within the Nigerian Police Force, including the use of torture, unlawful detention, and false accusations. The inspector’s experience serves as a reminder of the need for police reform and accountability in Nigeria.
As Patrick himself said, “I curse the day I joined the Nigerian Police. If I had known that this was what I would go through, I would not have joined. The police are supposed to protect the citizens, but in my case, they were the ones who tortured and detained me falsely.”
