Several months after the police failed to nab the perpetrators of the torture of two women, who were alleged to have stolen pepper in a market in Ejigbo, Lagos, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered that the case be handled by detectives from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
Two women were said to have been humiliated by some market men and women in the market, for stealing pepper. Although they were said to have denied the allegation, they still were beaten and various forms of injuries unleashed on them.
The whole drama was said to have been recorded and posted on facebook, a development which irked some civil society groups, media, and individuals, who protested the inhumane treatment, which was formally reported to the police at the Ejigbo Divisional Headquarters, Lagos.
When it was obvious that the police were not forthcoming in their investigations and findings, the Lagos State Government constituted a committee to look into it.
During investigation, it was discovered that one of the women had died from the various injuries meted on her, while the second woman had moved from Lagos to her village with her entire family members.
In a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mohammed ordered an immediate takeover of the case, suspect(s) and all exhibits related to the matter from the Lagos State Police Command by a crack team of detectives from the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), (Lagos Annex) and FCID.
The move, it was gathered, was geared towards ensuring the speedy delivery of justice, promoting the rule of law, discouraging impunity and defending the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, particularly the alleged victims of the “Ejigbo pepper torture”.
Abubakar assured all Nigerians, especially the family of the victims and other relevant stakeholders that the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done in the Ejigbo case.
He called on Nigerians to continously partner the Nigeria Police, particularly in the area of providing relevant information, promising to protect the confidentiality of all informants and whistleblowers at all times.
