…urges IGP to stop students’ harassment, intimidation
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused the officials of the Dragon Squad of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) operating in Ogun State and environs of harassment, intimidation and extortion.
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NANS President, Ladoja Olushola, in a statement, on Monday, in Abuja, lamented the brutal activities of the police squad particularly against students, thereby demanding the immediate intervention of the Inspector General of Police to end the matter.
He said the squad which was reportedly established by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, is being led by one DSP Akeem Adeyemi, and has its office in the Laderin Estate where several innocent people were allegedly being detained, unjustly.
The NANS National President further noted that the squad, apart from arresting and detaining Ogun residents who are majorly youths and students, has been acting as security backing to suspected land grabbers who invaded part of Ita Oshin and Oke Ata communities in Abeokuta, to unleash mayhem and wreak havoc.
He noted that despite several complaints made by the residents to the office of the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, the alleged heinous activities of the Dragon Squad have continued unchecked, thus calling for urgentl interventions of the Police authorities.
The NANS President maintained that the excesses of the police squad have spread fear in the hearts of Ogun residents, particularly students and their parents who had either been detained or forced to part with some sum of money.
He further observed that the gestapo style of operations of the squad, is gradually bringing back the inglorious era of SARS’s brutality and inhumane treatment meted out to the people.
“These policemen have turned Ogun, Abeokuta specifically, to their workshop. They carry out dirty jobs and extort the youths and students. In fact, NANS was reliably informed that a sum of N1.5m was collected from a male victim last week.
“While NANS do not condone or support crimes in any guise, even from our members, the students would stand and resist any violation of rights of our members, harassment and intimidation from any security agency, particularly the ones that engage in activities not backed by the Nigerian Constitution.
“We, however, call on the IGP not to allow the Dragon Squad to constitute itself into a terror and above-the-law personality, in the state of origin of the IGP. The AIG in charge of the Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, should also be called to order.
“NANS will mobilize massively and storm the office of AIG, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, on Wednesday, to protest the nefarious, obnoxious and notorious activities of the police Dragon Squad in Ogun State
“By next week Monday, NANS will mobilize and march in protest to the office of the IGP in Abuja; the National Assembly and the Office of the Secretary of Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Police Service Commission office, in order to call their attention to the aberration and siege on the innocent people of Ogun.”
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