A woman, Abisola Olumayowa James, and her friend have accused an officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) of physical assault and brutalisation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
James said the incident occurred on Saturday, July 26, near the residence of the Immigration Controller at Adewole Estate, Kaduna Road.
In an interview with SaharaReporters, James recounted a series of disturbing encounters with a new recruit identified as Abdulquadri Mustapha, who is assigned to guard the Controller’s residence.
“I live adjacent to the Nigerian Immigration Service Controller’s house in Adewole Estate, Kaduna Road, Ilorin,” James said.
I have been living in this place for all the years of my life. I was born here. My parents live here and have their personal house here. We have been living our lives in a quiet and beautiful way.”
James alleged that the officer, whom she described as frequently attempting to engage her in conversation, had taken offence over her not responding to his greetings.
She explained, “We have other military people here. I don’t interfere in anything concerning them. There has never been any conflict between me and any of them.
“The Controller’s house has been here for years. Different officers have come and gone for years now and I personally have never had any form of issues with any of them.
“Unfortunately, there is one immigration officer who came in. A new recruit guarding the Controller’s house. His name is Abdulquadri Mustapha.”
She further claimed that the officer had been eavesdropping on her conversations with friends and often misinterpreted their jokes as being directed at him.
According to her, the assault took place around 11:55am on Saturday while she was returning from church with a friend.
James alleged that the officer and his colleagues then dragged her and her friend into the premises and physically assaulted her.
“I jumped in front of him and told him my friend was not talking to him. Suddenly he slapped me three times and then they dragged my friend and me inside and started hitting and punching me.”
She added, “He and other officers who were supporting him to beat me treated me like a common criminal. I was treated like a criminal.
““Other officers including their senior officer were there while they beat, punched and kicked me until my ears started bleeding. At a point I nearly collapsed. They punched me in the face and the head, and stepped on me.”
She also accused the officers of breaking her friend’s phone when she tried to record the assault and claimed that her parents, who arrived shortly after, were also assaulted.
“My friend wanted to video the assault but they broke her phone. They brutalised me. I want justice. He told me that I cannot do anything.
“My parents came and saw me in bruises but the officer pushed away my brother and my parents. He threatened to shoot my father, a 70-year-old man. My mother is 66 years old. He pushed away my mother,” she said.
The visibly distraught James, who said she is the only child of her parents, demanded justice from the Nigerian Immigration Service.
“He was not alone. All the officers on duty that day were involved. They believe they have achieved their target but I will not rest until I get justice. The Nigerian Immigration Service must deal with them.”
When contacted, the Nigerian Immigration Service spokesperson, Akinsola Ainlabi, said “Thanks for reaching out. I will respond later as I am indisposed right now.”
However, hours after, the NIS spokesperson did respond as promised till the time of filing the report.