Some concerned lawyers have vowed to sue the Nigeria Police Force, for handcuffing a thirteen year old boy, Godwin Julius from behind.
The lawyers who stormed the Police station at New Nyanya, in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, were demanding for an explanation over the handcuffing of a teenager from behind, even when the boy had already been taken into Police custody.
The lawyers told our correspondent that, they will not make their identities known for now untill the matter goes to court, stressing however, that, they will also stand as defence counsels for the embattled orphan, in the matter being preferred against him.
Our correspondent who was also at the New Nyanya a Police Station learnt that, the teenager, Godwin Julius, an orphan who dropped out of school following the death of his parents, was arrested and detained on the suspicion that he stole a handset.
According to the Police, a lady, who sells liquor in a local beer parlour around the area reported the theft of her handset, and she suspected the orphan in connivance with another boy, to be the culprits.
People who gathered at the station in solidarity with the boy told our correspondent that, the other suspect was however set free, while Godwin was detained over night in handcuffs, even as a teenager.
The grouse of the lawyers, we gathered stems from the fact that, two suspects were initially arrested, but because there was nobody to stand for the orphan, he was subjected to inhuman treatment by the Police, by handcuffing him from behind and denying him food and water while in custody.
The boy was paraded while in handcuffs before his age mates, when the police went to search his guardian’s house without any search warrant.
Eye witnesses told us that, although nothing incriminating was found on the boy and in his guardian’s house, the boy was taken back into Police cell, while his other alleged accomplice was set free by the Police.
Further investigations reveal that, the boy is being charged to court on the suspicion that he stole the handset.
Our correspondent traced the boy to an area known as “Nokia 3310”, where his guardian’s operates an off licence beer parlour, where he denied stealing any handset.
According to him, three of them had access to the room where the handset was reported missing: including the complainant’s own son, who is of the same age with the suspect, and another man who supplies drinks to the complainant, but he was singled out for arrest and detention.
He said he has never stolen in his life, even when his parents were alive, and his guardian could attest to it, but he was surprised, the woman, whom he assists with chores is accusing him of theft.
Godwin told NationalTrail, in tears that, the Police while torturing him in the cell, poured cold water on him and connected naked electricity cable, which shook his whole body.
He said, he suspects the complainant’s own son may have taken the handset without telling his mother, as he did not even enter the woman’s shop that day, and the Police never inquired from other boy if he picked the phone, but relied upon what the complainant told them.
He said the complainant is a personal friend of the Police Woman who came to arrest him, as he had often seen them together, but pleaded with our correspondent not to expose it, as the Police might deal with him further.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Nasarawa State Police Command, Nansel Rahman told National Trail that, he has been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in New Nyanya, and has ordered the Investigative Police Officer, IPO, one Mr Gimba, to report to the Police Headquarters in Lafia for further investigations into the matter.
Mr Nansel confirmed that the DPO had directed the matter to be taken to court, since the suspect is minor, and he is sure the matter might have gone to court
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