FUTA students raise alarm over police harrassment

STUDENTS of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, have raised the alarm over the incessant harassment and breach of their constitutional rights by men of the Nigerian Police Force in Akure, Ondo state capital.

Addressing newsmen on Monday, in Akure, the Center for Human Right President, David Belele, said the alarm became imperative to stop the constant harassment from the security operatives in the state.

Belele also called on the security operatives to stay off from the campus and desist from intimidating them but should report any criminal minded students to the school authorities.

He said “The security agencies in FUTA hemisphere, the South Gate and the North Gate, are terrorizing young Nigerian youths. There is a need for us to come together as people who believe that the right of the people should not be tampered with.

“Several times they asked the students to bring out their phones for search. The last time I checked the Police Act, Part 4, Section 28, it does not give a concrete right for the police to search Nigerian citizens.

“We need to sensitize the people who do not know their right in FUTA environment, they should be aware that the police does have the right to search Nigerian citizen except they have a search warrant.

“If security agencies, especially the SARS, have any issue with bad guys or anybody, they should report to the Dean of Student’s Affairs. They should write the school management so that they can collectively prosecute the suspects.”

While narrating his experience in the hands of the men of the Nigerian police, he said “on my way to School of Health three days ago, I met some security agencies on the road and they asked me to bring out my phones. I told them they don’t have any right to ask for my phone.

“They threatened that they would shoot me. But in as much as I am concerned, we have to stop the illegal harassment and intimidation in FUTA environment and beyond.”

The students, however, lamented that the security operatives have been using the opportunity to extort the students of the school.

One of the student leaders, Victory Atilade, called on the police authorities to warn the police from the continued harassment saying FUTA is committed to breeding future leaders and not criminals, noting that the police are breaching their statutory and civil duties to turn against the innocent citizenry.

According to him, research made available on the police twitter handle revealed that “once a police officer wants to search you inside your property, you have the right to ask for a search warrant. And before they search you, you have the right to search them first.

“How many of those things are followed? They just come; when they see you are looking good, walking fine, having simple gadgets like phone and laptop, they tell you to get into their van that you are a fraudster.”

The student leaders urged the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner for Police in the state to promptly intervene in the matter before it goes out of hand, affirming that they would mobilise strongly against the excesses of the police officers.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph, who confirmed the receipt of the complaints by the students said the Commissioner for Police in the state had taken strict measures to investigate the allegations.

Joseph said that any police officer indicted in the allegations would be properly dealt with after the thorough investigation, adding that the command had made the police contacts available to the public, urged the people to always report any erring officer to the police authorities.