Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Lawal Abubakar, has ordered an investigation into a viral report that an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Oluseyi Okenla, physically assaulted his junior colleague, Sgt. Helen Onoja.
Helen, a nursing mother was also detained for several hours on the order of the senior police officer.
A policeman who witnessed the incident said Okenla and his orderly publicly beat Helen in front of the area command office in Enugu.
“The Commissioner has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough and conclusive investigation into the story of this physical assault”, said ASP Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s PRO.
“The investigation will help establish the facts surrounding the allegations and apportion appropriate disciplinary sanctions on whoever is found culpable,” Ndukwe said.
The police spokesman said that the commissioner had reassured the general public that no stone would be left unturned in getting to the root of the matter and meting out appropriate sanctions.
He noted that the Nigeria Police remained a regimented and disciplined agency that would stop at nothing to subject its personnel (male or female, or of senior or junior rank) to extant disciplinary codes, processes and punishments whenever they erred.
The female sergeant was allegedly beaten publicly by Okenla and his orderly, identified as Emma Oji in front of the area command office on February 17, 2022, around 6 pm.
The Area Commander and his orderly, Sergeant Emma Oji were accused of kicking, punching and dragging Helen on the dusty roadside of Orthopedic junction, Abakiliki expressway, Enugu.
A source claimed trouble started when Helen Onoja serving as a traffic controller at the Orthopedic junction decided to use the toilet at the Area Command’s office.
“As she was going into our office which is the Area Command to answer the call of nature, our ‘Oga’ (boss), ACP Okenla saw her and ordered her to go back to her traffic point despite the officer explaining to him that she wanted to use the toilet” a source told Sahara Reporters.
“I was there, the woman immediately obeyed him and returned to the junction without using the toilet. While back on her duty post, ACP Okenla sent Cpl Daniel Onyia to go and call her for him’ the source said.
Upon her arrival, she was allegedly assaulted and thrown into a police cell.
