The Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) has arrested one of its personnel who has been accused of assaulting a trader over alleged non-payment of market levy during a dispute.
The two suspects, identified as Terwase Abere and Mayange Aondowase, were detained after allegedly attacking a woman trader when she declined to pay a market levy, claiming she had not made any sales.
The duo, upon the victim’s refusal to pay the levy, allegedly beat and dragged her leaving her injured and requiring medical treatment during the incident which occurred on Monday at a market in Igbor village, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
The BSCPG investigators gathered that the suspects claimed to be volunteers working with the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, disclosing that they were acting on instructions from their Ward Commander, identified as Tiletswen, and another person known as Ipker.
According to their account, the commanders had directed them to bring the woman to their office over an unresolved matter.
When she refused to go, they allegedly contacted their superiors and were instructed to arrest her “even by force.”
The suspects reportedly maintained that the confrontation that followed resulted in the woman sustaining injuries and being taken to hospital.
During the assault, an eyewitness recorded and reported the incident to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har.
Har subsequently ordered BSCPG personnel to arrest the suspects and directed that the commanders mentioned during interrogation should also be produced for questioning.
Speaking to journalists by telephone, Har condemned the alleged conduct of the personnel and said security operatives had no authority to assault or forcibly move members of the public.
“Whatever reason they have, they have no such rights,” Har said, adding that the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
He said the incident came to his attention after an eyewitness, who is a lawyer, reported that the men had been collecting market tickets from traders.
“Of course, they are illegal tickets that they used to collect from people,” Har said.
He explained that the suspects claimed the woman had a case to answer at their office but acknowledged that such a justification did not permit them to use force against her.
Following the directive, the BSCPG commander in Gwer East, Master Warrant Officer Moses Mhoon, reportedly moved to apprehend the suspects and transferred them to the outfit’s facility in Makurdi.
The two suspects are being detained at the facility while arrangements are being made to hand them over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Har also directed the State Commander of the BSCPG to produce the officials named by the suspects for interrogation.
He warned individuals operating under the guise of security personnel against intimidating or harassing members of the public.
“The law will catch up with anyone hiding under the cover of security to harass or intimidate citizens,” Har said.