A woman has accused officers of the Nigeria Mobile Police (MOPOL) of brutally assaulting her Ghanaian-German husband during a stop-and-search operation along the boundary road between Edo State and Agbor, Delta State.Travel guides
In a video obtained by newsmen, the distraught woman recounted the traumatic incident, stating that her husband was visiting Nigeria for the first time to celebrate with her family in their hometown.
Meanwhile, the couple was travelling back to Lagos with other family members when the alleged abuse occurred.
“We were on our way back to Lagos in a family car when we were stopped by policemen — MOPOL officers,” she said in the video.
“They said it was a stop-and-search operation. They checked our luggage thoroughly and found nothing incriminating.”Travel guides
However, she explained that during the search, officers found a piece of clothing resembling military camouflage in her husband’s bag, which they claimed was an army uniform.
“They said the cloth looked like an army uniform. But it’s just a normal piece of clothing we wear in Germany. I didn’t even know he packed it, and I had earlier warned him that civilians are not allowed to wear army gear here. He didn’t wear it — not even once.”
The woman said things escalated when the officers discovered that her husband was not Nigerian after checking his wallet. They demanded that he follow them alone to their base, but she insisted on accompanying him.
“It was a very hot day. My husband was sweating and asked for a tissue to clean his face. My daughter gave him one,” she said.
“While he was cleaning his sweat, two policemen suddenly grabbed him by the neck. One of them began forcing the tissue into his mouth and shouting that he was swallowing drugs.”
She described the scene as chaotic adehumanising. “They inflicted injuries on him. They kept shouting ‘he’s swallowing drugs’ but he was only wiping his face. I was in shock. I kept asking what was going on.”
Fighting back tears, the woman condemned the conduct of the officers, calling it a national embarrassment.
“Is this how Nigerian police behave? Why are criminals the ones wearing uniforms and brutalising innocent people?” She asked.
“I brought my husband here to meet my people, and this is what he gets? Can he ever agree to come here again? This is shameful. I’m so ashamed to be Nigerian.”
