Police to begin trial of Rivers, Kano cops

The Nigeria Police Force has revealed the identities of three policemen involved in the assault on a  motorists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Sunday.

It said the three policemen, who were identified as Inspector Adejoh Siaka,  Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari, would soon face trial.

This was as FHQ also announced the arrest of Sergeants Abdullahi Badamasi, Isah Danladi, and Inspector Dahiru Shuaibu, the caught in a viral video firing into thin air in Kano State.

The PUNCH had reported on Monday that the FHQ ordered the arrest of the Rivers officers seen in a viral video assaulting a male motorist.

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In the video, one of the officers was seen assaulting a man with a stick before slapping him repeatedly and subsequently forcing him to enter a vehicle.

One other officer forcefully pushed other passengers to their car and cocked his gun, in an incident that happened on Sunday at Emouha Junction, East/West Road in Port Harcourt.

However, following public outcry, the police authority condemned the action of the policemen, adding that their conduct doesn’t represent the character of the NPF nor the practice in the Force.

 Parading them at the FHQ on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave their names as Inspector Adejoh Siaka, Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari.

Adejobi, who posted a picture of the three policemen on his Twitter handle, on Tuesday, wrote: “Inspector Adejoh Siaka, Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari from Rivers State. These are the men who slapped a man on the road in Rivers.

“They reported at the Force Headquarters today. Trial will soon commence. We will update you as soon as possible. Thanks.”

Earlier on, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, had ordered the immediate arrest of the officers.

Effiong gave the directive in a statement issued through the Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who said the officers had been identified.

Also, The PUNCH had reported that the officers attached to a popular Kano singer, were caught firing into the air with their pistols and AK-47 riffle while escorting the musician into his car at a ceremony.

The Force spokesman, Adejobi, on his Twitter handle, said the officers reported to the FHQ for trial on Tuesday.

Posting a photo of the suspects, Adejobi said, “These are the men caught on video firing into the air in kano, they reported today, Tuesday, April 11 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for trial. The trial is ongoing. We will update the public as soon as the trial is over.”