John Ekefre, a cinema house worker who is recuperating in the hospital has narrated how the police battered and damaged his internal organ.
The Punch reports that John and four other friends – Anthony Kenkwo , Michael Peter, Godwin Ekeji and Joy Imoh – were on their way to attend a church programme tagged, The Experience on Friday, December 4 when their vehicle broke down in the Costain area around 11pm and they had to alight. As they were walking by the roadside, they were accosted by the police from the Iponri division and forcefully arrested and accused of robbery. It was reported that when John became too inquisitive and questioned the police, he was beaten.
The torture was so severe that John had to be taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to undergo surgery.
Ohn said from the hospital: “I work at a cinema in Surulere. We were on afternoon duty that fateful Friday. We closed around 11pm and left for TBS to attend a church programme – The Experience 10.
“When we got to Costain, we alighted from the bus we boarded because there was gridlock. About five policemen on patrol stopped us and we told them we were going to the church. They searched our bags, but nothing incriminating was found there. They forced us into their bus. We showed them our identity cards, but they ignored us.
“On our way to the station, I asked them what our offence was and they said we were highway robbers. When we got to the station, they dragged me down, beat me up and one of them hit me in the stomach with the butt of his gun.
“They said I was too inquisitive. The following day, they collected N6,000 from my brother before I was released.”
Kenkwo said he had to pay N5,500 for his release and he was beaten when he questioned the police.
“It was a bitter experience. Every Friday and Saturday, we run late night shows. After the close of work, Ekefre and I waited for three other friends from Apapa so that we would go to the programme in a group. The traffic was hectic that night and we decided to disembark from the bus because the guys with us looked stern.
“I also asked the officer who took my statement what I did. But he responded with punches. It was while I was in the cell that I started bleeding from the nose.
“They charged me N10,000 for bail. It was after my brother bargained with them that they collected N5,500. They collected N5,000 from Godwin (Ekeji’s) family, but Joy, the only female among us, was released free.”
Mercy Ekefre, the elder sister of John said over N200,000 had been spent by the family for his treatment.
She said: “The doctor said his intestine was ruptured and that he had a blood clot. He had a surgery and we are still awaiting the medical report.”
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