Drama as Navy disarms Policeman during alleged illegal raid in Abuja

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When Nigerian Navy officers allegedly disarmed a police officer during an alleged illegal raid in the Bassa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, December 20, tensions increased.

Officers from the Iddo Police Station were involved in the event, which happened during a controversial operation in which locals accused police of making unauthorised arrests at houses and schools.

According to SaharaReporters informed by witnesses that police were arbitrarily arresting locals. “They parked in front of people’s houses, waiting for them to step out, then forced them into their buses, ” one source alleged.

When the authorities allegedly tried to arrest Navy men, the situation became more heated. “The Navy officers questioned their actions, but one of them was slapped. In retaliation, they disarmed the policeman and threatened to use his weapon before leaving with the gun and ammunition,” the source added.

Solomon Majit, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Iddo Police Station, acknowledged the scuffle after it occurred but refuted allegations of an unlawful raid. “Yes, but the firearm has been found. “We were carrying out operations to address security issues in the Federal Capital Territory,” Majit said.

Several resident stories point to a pattern of alleged extortion by station personnel, notwithstanding the DPO’s defence. More than 20 people who were allegedly arrested during the operation said they were forced to pay bail payments of up to ₦50,000 each, and some of them were held in cells overnight.

“They arrested me without cause, slapped me, and forced me into a bus,” one victim recounted. “They demanded ₦50,000 for bail. From over 20 people, they made over a million naira.”

Residents in the area also alleged that such practices by officers from the Iddo Police Station are not new. “They often arrest people late in the evening and demand money for their release. It’s extortion disguised as law enforcement,” another source claimed.

Discussions on police accountability and reforms have been rekindled as a result of the Nigerian Navy’s involvement in the incident, which has brought attention to what some locals describe as a widespread abuse of authority.

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