The Fulani leader of Dama Kasuwa community in Kauru LGA of Kaduna State, Ardo Salisu Ibrahim, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, over alleged ethnic profiling and his unlawful arrest and torture by the police in Kaduna.
In a November 7 petition by the law chamber of Aliyu Lemu and Co., police operatives were accused of detaining and torturing him for three days, from which he sustained a broken arm and other severe internal and external bodily injuries.
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According to the letter that was received at the Central Mail Collection Office, Department of Finance and Administration of the Force Headquarters, in Abuja, the petitioner said police officers visited the community on November 4 in search of four persons in connection with an investigation.
He said the security agents arrested him even though he knew nothing about the four suspects or their whereabouts.
The petitioner stated that it took a protest and blocking of the Dama Kasuwa-Saminaka highway by members of the community on November 6 which led to the intervention of the Kaduna State Police Command, which demanded the immediate release of Ibrahim.
He accused the police officers of prejudice and ethnic profiling of the Fulani in the area, adding that members of the Fulani communities were being arrested on “baseless accusations, extorted of huge sums of money, and tortured” before they were released without preferring any charge against them or arraigning them before a competent court.
The community leader urged the IG to investigate the matter and ensure all those involved are brought to book.
However, when contacted, the force spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, assured that the IG would look into the petition and the lawyers would be contacted at the appropriate time.
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