SaharaReporters gathered that the two journalists were assaulted while the police personnel led by a female Corporal identified as Ebi, boasted that the Inspector General of Police and the state police commissioner cannot sanction them because of their political connections in Abuja.
No fewer than 10 police personnel attached to the Ughelli 'A' Division of the Nigeria police in Delta state on Friday arrested, tortured and handcuffed two journalists who were in the police station to resolve an issue involving a motorcyclist.
SaharaReporters gathered that the two journalists were assaulted while the police personnel led by a female Corporal identified as Ebi, boasted that the Inspector General of Police and the state police commissioner cannot sanction them because of their political connections in Abuja.
The two journalists, Gabriel Oghenekaro Awodeha, Editor of the Periscope Newspapers and Andrew Unutame, Galaxy Television correspondent, are still recovering from wounds sustained during the assault.
They disclosed that they were hit with gun butts and other strong objects several times and had so far spent N350,000 on treatment and drugs.
Narrating the incident to SaharaReporters, Awodeha said, "I boarded a motorcycle, popularly known as Okada, and as we were on our way, the police on stop and search duty flagged us down and demanded the motorcycle registration documents.
“Upon presentation of the papers, the Okada rider noticed that he forgot one of his documents at home and based on that, the Okada was dragged from the rider, taken to the Ughelli 'A' Division of the police station and detained. After a while, the rider went home to bring the remaining document.
"When the man brought the paper, as promised, I called a colleague, a correspondent of Galaxy Television, Andrew Unutame and we went to the station with him. We were then directed to a policewoman identified as Corporal Ebi who said the particulars were not authentic, and that it could be forged. She now asked for a bribe of N50,000 but we objected and she ordered us to leave her sight and go and look for the money when we tried to speak to her.
“At this point, we decided to leave and proceeded to our vehicle. As we were about to go, she ran towards us and asked the Okada man to give her the motorcycle documents, alleging that we were running away. I was shocked when she said so and at this point, I asked the Okada man to give her the particulars which he did.
"Immediately, she started hurling abuses at us. When I told her that the insults were uncalled for, she asked who was I to challenge her. Just as she was shouting, another male officer identified as Inspector Erasmus Ikperinwa came and grabbed me on my trousers, cut my belt and started manhandling me before other policemen numbering over seven with guns and some local vigilantes joined in the mass beating. The policemen started torturing and beating me with their gun butts and other strong objects. They handcuffed me and forced me to lie on the floor.
“They threatened to throw me inside the cell and then shoot and kill me. They said the state commissioner of police and Inspector General of Police cannot do anything to them because they have powerful connections in Abuja.
"The woman, Corporal Ebi said to me ‘You can call the IG of Police and if it is a case that you want, I will give you to the fullest.’ The same thing was also said by Inspector Erasmus Ikperinwa and one Chukwutem Ogwu, that nobody can do anything to them.
“As a matter of fact, Inspector Erasmus Ikperinwa brought out a paper and wrote his name down, saying we could take it to the state commissioner of police or IG, but nothing would happen because they were politically connected. When my colleague, Andrew Unutame, who is a correspondent with Galaxy Television, saw what was happening, he tried to intervene but one of the police officers, popularly known as 'Wrong Number', an ASP said to have been newly transferred from Agbor to Ughelli attacked him with wood and other police officers joined in the beating.
"We did not commit any crime, so I don't see why me and my colleague should be tortured, beaten, manhandled and handcuffed like a condemned criminal in such a way.
“We are calling on the state commissioner of police and Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency and importance do something about the incessant unprovoked attacks, brutalisation, torture, arrest and detention of law-abiding journalists doing their legitimate and constitutional duties.
“The police personnel in Ughelli 'A' Division are synonymous with attacks on media practitioners. After the incident, we went to a pharmacy to get drugs to reduce the pain, but we couldn't sleep throughout the night. The next day, we went to Ughelli Central Hospital to do some tests and get treatments because the pain in my eyes where they punched me became severe."
As of the time of filing this report, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, SP Bright Edafe had not answered calls to his mobile phone. He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.