A human rights activist and good governance advocate, Jeff Okoroafor, has asked the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to punish the official that assaulted him.
Okoroafor in a petition to the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno complained about the assault and threat to his life by an unnamed official of the ONSA.
In the petition, a copy of which was made available to Daily Trust, He said, on November 5, 2018 at a restaurant in Wuse 2, Abuja a security agent attached to the ONSA pulled out his pistol and threatened to shoot him, for blocking his car and wasting his time.”
He explained that he had a paper attached to his car windshield wiper, with his number on it, after he got to the restaurant and was directed to park as they do other cars.
He said, “By the time I returned I saw the car in front of mine attempting to wriggle its way out and I quickly rushed in, apologized to both the restaurant’s attendants and this security agent and showed them the note I left.”
“That was it. This security agent went ballistic, calling me unprintable names, pushing me, hitting me and threatening to slap the devil out of me.”
“I saw a gun attached to his waist and then quickly asked that he conducts himself as an officer of the law, and added that reckless acts like that could lead to him losing his job.”
“On hearing this, he rushed at me, hit me hard on the chest and pulled out his gun threatening to shoot me down and vowed that nothing would happen,” Okoroafor said in his petition.
When contacted by Daily Trust, he said he learned the unnamed official worked at the ONSA because the Identity Card he was wearing had ONSA on it.
He also said he was invited by the ONSA over the petition on 9 November 2018 and informed that investigation has commenced on the incident.
Okoroafor said ONSA officials told him the driver and the security agent in question have both been identified, questioned and now in their custody.
He said they persistently told him the ONSA does not take such issues lightly, especially when assault and threat to life are involved.
“An unreserved apology was issued to me by the ONSA and with a guarantee, that investigation on the issue will be expedited and appropriate action taken,” He added.
He said, “In all candidness and without flinching, ONSA’s response to my complaint and petition was apt and very professional.”
“As we all know, most security agencies of the government often cover up for their errant agents, which emboldens them and make them commit even more hideous crimes,” he said.
He noted that, “ONSA acted very differently. The office was embarrassed and deeply offended by the actions of this security agent.”
Daily Trust was unable to get a comment from the ONSA over the petition because they do not have a contact person who responds to enquiries from the media.
