A Lagos-based human rights activist, Mr. Ishola Musbau, allegedly tortured by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Police in Lagos, has raised the alarm that he is going blind as a result of his ordeal in the hands of the SARS men.
Musbau was allegedly attacked by about 11 SARS officers for attempting to secure the release of some men arrested in his Ebute Metta neighbourhood.
He claimed that his torture by the SARS operatives had seriously affected his vision, saying that he could now barely see, especially in intense sunshine.
“My eyes often ache me, especially when the sun shines. At some point, I won’t even see anything and it would be as if something is being plugged in my eyes, making me to be having serious headache,” he said.
Musbau, who said he would require about N400, 000 to correct his sight problem, decried the “inhumane and callous” manner of some police operatives, whose behaviours, he said, were akin to those of criminals.
Recalling the incident, the activist said, “It all started when I was invited to the SARS office by the Officer-in-Charge, Umar Paiko, on an incident that happened on Jones Street, Ebute Metta. Some boys were arrested and held in police custody over the incident. The OC then asked me to return the next day, with a promise that the boys in custody would be
released.
“The following day, on arrival at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, I waited outside for the OC, who had previously informed me that he had a meeting at Zone 2 Police Command headquarters.
“While waiting for him, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, called and I informed him I was within the Police Command, and he said we should see. Later, we met in the office of the Commissioner of Police to discuss how to resolve the issue of the boys in custody, which the OC had already promised to do.
Speaking further, he said, “After the meeting, I ran into the family members of those that were detained and assured them that their wards would be released once the OC returned. But as I was waiting, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Biola, who led SARS officers to Jones Street on that day asked if I was Musbau and I said yes.
“Immediately, they started beating and dragging me on the floor. They almost completely stripped me naked in the attack that lasted over 45 minutes and I was being videotaped by the 11
officers.”
He, therefore, demanded justice against the 11 SARS officers as well as against other police personnel, who had meted out same inhumane torture to defenceless Nigerians.
Musibau also called for payment of adequate compensation to the victims of torture by security operatives.
