Olusegun Ariyo
The Nigeria Police has reacted to the Submission of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human rights Activist Femi Falana on a viral Video of Purported Assistant Superintendent of Police, Vincent Makinde Leg-chained while in Detention In Abuja
The video clip capturing the suspect in chains has gone viral, triggering anger from the general public.
Concerned Nigerians, including a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on Monday called for the immediate and unconditional release of the suspect from police custody.
According to Falana, Vincent, who has been detained at Asokoro Police Station, Abuja, since November 11, is a serving police officer at the FED OPS Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
However, the NPF, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said Vincent was dismissed in 2022.
Adejobi said the suspect was dismissed following a thorough investigation and orderly room trial over several serious offences such as “abuse of office, extortion, gross misconduct, dereliction of duty and insubordination, among others.”
He explained that while awaiting the validation of the orderly room proceedings and subsequent prosecution, the suspect assaulted a senior police officer on duty and subsequently escaped from custody, leading to his re-arrest.
“Around June 2024, he resurfaced, parading himself as a bona fide member of the Nigeria Police Force, adorning the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police without being previously absolved of his offences or promoted.
“Being made aware of this, the police authority issued a directive for his immediate re-arrest.
“The suspect was apprehended while impersonating himself as an active, sworn senior police officer and armed with a rifle. When approached by police operatives, Vincent Makinde exhibited violent and aggressive behaviour while resisting lawful arrest and detention.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect was restrained using feet restraining devices due to his continuous violent nature, coupled with the fact that he had previously violently escaped from lawful custody.
“The officers deemed it necessary to employ the use of these restraints as a precaution to ensure the safety of the officers on duty, prevent another escape, and secure against any potential harm to him and others around him that might arise from his aggressive demeanour.
“It is pertinent to note that the use of restraining devices is a global practice for individuals actively, aggressively, or aggravatedly resisting lawful detention.”
