By NSAN NDOMA-NEJI Calabar
A middle age business man Mr. Terrance Abang on Friday charged the Cross River State Police Commissioner, CP Alhassan Aminu, to cause Yakurr LG Council chairman, Mr. Ofem Ebri Obeten to withhold delay fish out Yakurr Taskforce officials who had beaten him to pulp and inflicted several body injuries in Ugep town as he stopped over at Omilakwa petrol station to by petrol for the vehicle he was driving.
Abang dropped the charge while recounting the ordeal that he passed through in the hands of Yakurr Local Government Council Taskforce officials to our Correspondent in a telephone conversation in CALABAR.
Speaking on the issue, Abang said, ” I stopped over in Omilakwa petrol station, Ugep Community as I was returning from Porthacourt, the River State capital and heading towards Ikom LGA of Cross River State.
” I stopped over at Omilakwa petrol station in Ugep town to buy petrol for my car.
“To my greatest surprise, a group of young men surrounded my car just as I finished buying petrol and paid for the product.
“I head them said,give us your car key, probably because they saw some two aged women who accosted me as I was trying to make purchase for they petrol.
“The two aged women said to me, our son, if you are going towards Ikom can you assist and drop us at Ochong Community in Obubra LGA since you are going to Ikom.
Just as I finished explaining to the aged women that I wasnt a commercial driver but a car dealer.
“I tried to let both women to know that I was weary and tired and wont have time to start carrying people up and down just because I want to assist people.
“The taskforce guys clamped down on me, and began dragging my vehicle keys with me.one of them said hand over your car key to our Chairman.
“And I said no because they were dressed on mufty. I rested every attempt to seize the car key from me because I didn’t know who they are couple with the fact that they had nothing to be identified as officials of Yakurr Local Government Council.
The business man stressed that he was beaten blue black to an extent that he was lifted up by six able bodied men who claimed to be officials of Yakurr Taskforce and kept on top of the car bonnet where he was pined down on the hot bunet for some time and he got his back burnt by the heat from the car bunet.
According to the victim, upon realizing that he had sustained terrible injuries on his back, the touts hopped into a toyota primerier which they drove and zoomed off.
Abang who hails from Boki LGA in Cross River State stressed that immediately he ran to a nearby police station at Ugep and incidented the case of brutality against him by taskforce officials.
“I am so truamatized , and worried especially now that schools had resumed because I am supposed to be traveling back to Porthacourt with my kids for them to begin School.
“I was traveling from Porthacourt to Ikom to pick my kids so that they can return back to school in Porthacourt, unknown to me that I was going to meet this kind of misfortune.
“Just look at me lying down now without being able to walk. I want the Cross River State Commissioner of Police,Gov Ben Ayade and Yakurr Council Chairman to find these wicked and evil men who got me traumatized are so that they don’t do this to another travel who may want to stop over to buy petrol in Ugep.” Abang cried.
He said that immediately he finished lodging Complaint, luckily the Yakurr Divisional police officer DPO swung into action unfortunately the officials of Yakurr Taskforce were no where to be found.
He stressed that following the intervention of the DPO and some Council officials he was rushed to a nearby pharmaceutical shop where he was given first aid to enable him continue his journey to Ikom.
According to the victim upon returning back to pick his car,where it was a abandoned while he went to receive medical treatment,the battery of his car had ready been stolen.
He said that It took some hours before the police were able to recover the motor battery for him to enable him continue his journey to Ikom LGA.
In a telephone conversation with Yakurr Local Government Council Boss, Mr. Ofem Nelson who expressed worry over the incident stated that, he was not in the council area when the incident occurred adding that he returned back to the town from where he travelled out from the LGA where he went out for an official engagement.
“I was not even in town. I was told an incident like that happened. I thank God that the matter was reported to the police who finally got the matter resolved.
“Ugep is one of the fastest growing,cities in Cross River State,where visitors used to visit. I won’t support any act of violent. I thanked God for the police intervention and his vehicle and battery were recovered an given to the owner.
“On my part I would try to find out who these people are and ensure that such dosen’t occur again.”Ofem stated.
Commenting on the issue, the Police Public Relations Officer (Cross River State Command), Police PPRO SP Irene Ugbo stated, “As we speak,the police is yet to get a full detail of what took place, however so would have to be done once we are able to unravelled the mystery behind what transpired and ensure that those behind this crime are adequately punished.