The viral story has received much attention today, as the Inspector-General of Police, Sulemain Abba, has ordered an investigation of the incident, in line with his "avowed commitment to protect and uphold the human rights of all Nigerians and residents therein."
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, a married couple, Ejeh Smith, 29 and his wife Grace, 26, allege that they were physically tortured by a policeman, identified as Dada Ogunsanya, as they were heading to their Ikoyi, Lagos home in a taxi.
The viral story has received much attention today, as the Inspector-General of Police, Sulemain Abba, has ordered an investigation of the incident, in line with his "avowed commitment to protect and uphold the human rights of all Nigerians and residents therein."
It is reported that the police officer responsible for the assault was a part of a seven-man team that was patrolling the area at approximately 10 p.m.
According to Punch, “The police team was said to have stopped the taxi driver and demanded that he opened his boot for a routine check. The taxi driver, Ndubuisi Iheaka, told Punch that after he opened his boot which contained scaffolding belts, the policeman demanded to see his driving licence.
The driver alleges that the officer and Grace Ejeh then got into an argument, at which point the couple was asked to come down from the vehicle. According to the driver, this is when the assault began: “[The officer] slapped her and punched her husband. He was wearing a ring, which inflicted a deep cut on Ejeh’s face. After that, he used the butt of his gun to hit him in his eye and face. He also dragged his wife on the road," he said.
Mrs. Ejeh claims the officer, in addition to slapping her, stepped on her stomach.
“If I was pregnant that night, I would have lost my pregnancy. I was only trying to pet him to leave my husband since he did not have business with us. I told him to face the cab driver and leave us alone," Ejeh said.
“The other policemen were just looking at him while he dragged me on the ground. A man riding a tricycle at the time was the one who rescued me. He said the policemen must call their Divisional Police Officer or else he would not leave the scene,” she furthered.
"The attention of the Police High Command has been drawn to a viral media story alleging police incivility to a couple in Ikoyi, Lagos," the Nigerian Police said today in a statement. "The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter in line with his avowed commitment to protect and uphold the Human Rights of all Nigerians and residents therein."