By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
#TrackNigeria: The Nigeria Police on Wednesday arraigned the two traffic wardens, TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit for complicity in the unfortunate death of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, ASC Ogar Jumbo.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DCP Frank Mba and made available to Newsdiaryonline said the arraignment was “in keeping with the assurances by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammadu Adamu to ensure a transparent, accountable, comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late NSCDC officer.
“The arraignment of the erstwhile Traffic Wardens is sequel to the outcome of investigation into the case of alleged discreditable conduct and unlawful exercise of authority reported against them on 20th March, 2019.
“The former Traffic Wardens had earlier been subjected to the internal disciplinary procedures of the Force – tried in an Orderly Room, and dismissed before the arraignment. Police investigations positively indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.
“Forensic Analysis by a pathologist as seen in the autopsy report clearly traced the cause of death to injuries inflicted on the deceased during his encounter with the Traffic Wardens,” the statement said.
According to the statement, “the autopsy report states in part that the death; was due to blunt force injury to the head; multiple skin and soft tissue injuries on the fore head and face, and that there was no natural disease in the body to sufficiently explain the sudden death.”
While registering regrets for the unfortunate incident, the IGP enjoined the Public not to lose faith in the Force, reiterating his earlier assurances that, under his watch, no form of impunity or “man’s inhumanity to man” will go unpunished.
He also warned that like these indicted traffic wardens, any Police Officer found wanting for unlawful use of Force and other sundry offences, would “be publicly named, shamed and brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.”
Meanwhile, the two erstwhile Traffic Wardens have been remanded in Kuje Prisons pending the next adjournment of the case.
