Four NSCDC Officers In Police Custody Over Alleged Beating, Death Of Bolt Driver In Edo
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State Police Command today confirmed the arrest of four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their alleged involvement in the manhandling and subsequent death of a bolt driver identified as Mr. Henry Osewenkhai.
The late Osewenkhai was until his sudden death, happily married with two children.
The victim of the NSCDC brutality had on that fateful day (Tuesday) taken a passenger to a popular hotel located off Limit Road on Sapele in Benin City, where he had an altercation with some unidentified youths including officers of the NSCDC.
An eye witness account, who gave his name as Festus Nwabuzor during a peaceful protest with different inscription like: “Enough Is Enough, Bolt Drivers Are Not Slave”, We Need Justice For The Death Of Bolt Driver Henry (a.k.a. Lord Is Good)”, “Unlawful Murder Of Henry”, “Justice For Henry”, “The Killers Of Henry (Bolt Driver) Must Be Brought To Book”, “Enough Of The Brutality By Security Agencies”, “We Need Justice For The Killing Of Bolt Driver By NSCDC Offucers”, etc. to the Secretariat of the Edo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said their colleague was beaten up and molested by some power drunk NSCDC officials after he dropped off a passenger who booked his service to the hotel.
Festus, who lamented the ignoble role of the four NSCDC officers, said Mr. Henry Osewenkhai the bolt driver was about driving out of the hotel when he suddenly got stopped and by some suspected Yahoo boys lurking around the car park of the hotel, who accused him of almost hitting them.
While a heated argument ensued between the driver and the suspected Yahoo boys, it was gathered that the Yahoo boys contacted some NSCDC officers who hurriedly moved to the hotel and joined the youths to beat up the driver mercilessly.
Another eye witness account revealed that the NSCDC officers were providing security for the hotel when the incident occurred and joined the suspected Yahoo boys in beating up erring bolt driver.
Confirming the incident to newsmen via telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Edo State Command, SP Moses Joel Yamu said the victim made a formal complaint at the police command after the incident.
Yamu expressed shocked when he heard that the victim had passed away thereafter due to the internal injuries sustained from the beating by the youths and NSCDC officers.
The PPRO added that four officers of the NSCDC are currently in its custody over the matter and assured the family of the victim and the public of proper investigation into the death of the Bolt Driver.
