Metro has received information concerning the inhuman and degrading treatment and shooting of a motorcycle rider known as Idachaba Mohammed by a Naval Officer in Idah, Kogi State on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016.
The motorcycle rider was said to have been riding from Sabon Gari area of Idah when the Navy Officer identified as Navy Commander Otuh Bassey attempted to shove him off the road with his Pathfinder SUV in an attempt to avoid the potholes on the road.
Navy Commander Otuh Bassey, who has been identified as the Assistant Commandant, Idah Naval Post Kogi State, was said to have pursued Mohammed furiously, double-crossed him and forced him to a stop.
According to Mohammed, Commander was angry because he did not stop for him to overtake him in an attempt to avoid a pothole that he, Mohammed was trying to avoid too.
“There is a porthole on the road and as I was about to manoeuvre through the potholes, a vehicle came from behind with speed and tried to force me into the bush so that he can avoid the porthole too but I didn’t allow him because, I definitely will get injured too.
“I guess he must have been mad at me for not agreeing to wound myself so he could pass and so he double crossed me and ordered me to come down from my motorcycle and also ordered me to kneel down but immediately ordered me to do 'frog jump' and I quickly obeyed, stoop and started to 'frog jump' because I realised that he was an officer I had met before during the last state assembly re- run at Ogegele. I was among the people that challenged him when it was obvious that they wanted to assist politician in tampering with the ballot boxes. That day, he warned me never to let him see my face again else he will waste my life.” Mohammed narrated.
Mohammed said the moment the Naval Officer recognised his face, he told him that his time to die has come. “The moment he remembered who I was, he told me it was time for him to fulfil his promised to waste me and that was when he drew his pistol and started to shoot.” Mohammed narrated further.
Believing that the Okada rider was dead after shooting him and leaving him in a pool of his own blood, the Naval Officer was said to have entered his SUV headed to a motor park where he dropped off the girl he was carrying in his car and left, unknown to the Naval Officer, a plain cloth police officer was by the corner and witnessed the whole incident.
Our correspondent gathered that it was the police officer that trailed the Naval Officer to the motor park, and as he dropped off the girl and left, the police officer arrested the girl and took her to the police station. The girl was made to put a call through to the Naval Officer from the police station and informed him about her arrest; he arrived at the police station where he made statement claiming that he did not shoot Mohammed on purpose.
The okada rider was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja where surgery was performed on Mohammed on Monday, August 12, 2016.
When Metro contacted Comrade Okechukwu Nwanguma, the National Coordinator of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), he said that the organisation already petitioned the Chief of Naval Staff on July 28, 2016 and that NOPRIN considers the action of the Naval Officer in subjecting the okada rider to such dehumanising punishment and later abusing his instrument of authority by using his service rifle to shoot him for whatsoever reason as gross abuse of power and disgraceful to the image and professional integrity of the Nigerian Navy.
NOPRIN therefore, urges the Chief of Naval Staff to order an impartial investigation into the unprofessional and discreditable conduct of the Naval Officer with a view to subjecting him to appropriate disciplinary action.
Mohammed (middle) after the surgery
All effort to get the Naval Image maker to react to the issue proved abortive as he didn't respond to messages and calls made across to him.
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