Two men alleged to have assaulted a woman over non-payment of market levy have been arrested and detained by the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Terwase Aye Abere and Mayange Aondowase, both from Igbor village, allegedly attacked the woman at the local market in Igbor, Gwer East LGA, after she told them she had made no sales and could not pay the levy.
Our correspondent gathered that the victim was allegedly beaten and dragged half-naked by the suspects before she was subsequently hospitalised.
The suspects were arrested after a witness reported the matter to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, who directed BSCPG operatives to apprehend them.
The two men, who are currently being held at the BSCPG facility in Makurdi, claimed during interrogation that they were volunteers attached to the Gwer East command of the security outfit.
A statement by Comrade Mfa Ogiri, Media Assistant to Har, said the suspects told investigators that they were acting on the instructions of their ward commanders, identified as Tiletswen and Ipker, who allegedly directed them to bring the woman to their office over an unresolved issue.
They were said to have explained that after the woman refused to comply with the instruction, they reported back by phone and were allegedly told to arrest her ‘even by force.’
The suspects further claimed that the confrontation that followed resulted in the woman sustaining injuries and being admitted to hospital.
Reacting to the incident, Har condemned the alleged assault and directed the State Commander of the BSCPG to produce the commanders mentioned by the suspects for interrogation.
Speaking to journalists by telephone in Makurdi, Har said an eyewitness, who is a lawyer, reported that the men had been collecting market tickets from traders, which he described as illegal.
‘The woman refused to pay, and that’s why they started dragging her. But according to the story of the boys, they said the woman has a case to answer in the office. They asked her to come. She refused to come. And that’s why they wanted to force her to go to the office.
‘For whatever reason, they have no such rights. So I have asked them (BSCPG) to prepare a letter to hand them over to the police for prosecution,’ he said.
Har said he had immediately directed the BSCPG commander in Gwer East, Master Warrant Officer Moses Mhoon, to arrest the suspects after the matter was reported.
He said Mhoon rushed to the scene, apprehended the suspects and brought them to Makurdi for detention, adding that the woman was receiving treatment in hospital.
The security adviser warned individuals posing as security operatives, particularly in rural communities, against harassing or intimidating members of the public.
‘The law will catch up with anyone hiding under the cover of security to harass or intimidate citizens,’ Har said.