A graduate of Marketing from the Anambra State University (now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University), Uli, Anthony Onuagbara, tells OLUFEMI OLANIYI how members of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad caused him to lose his right eye after allegedly beating him up and arraigning him in court for armed robbery.

You were a corps member in 2012. Where were you posted for your primary assignment?

I was posted to the Bursar’s Office at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti for my primary assignment. I read Marketing at the Anambra State University (now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University).

Can you recall how you were brutalised by policemen attached to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad?

It happened in August 2012. I was at home around the Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti. It happened around 8pm. A corps member living in the same compound with me came back home with a sex worker. About five minutes later, the girl stormed out of the house angrily and verbally abused the corps member. I asked him what happened and he told me that he picked up the sex worker at Fajuyi area and brought her home without agreeing on the price. But he said when they got home, the woman insisted on collecting N2,000 or thereabouts but he could not afford it as a corps member. He said the woman became angry and stormed out of the house. He went back to his room and I went to bed. I was in bed when some armed policemen came and forced our doors open.

Why did they do that?

The lady went and told them that she was sexually abused. We later found out that they were the sex worker’s regular customers so she lied against the corps member staying in the same compound with me. Those who came were with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and they started beating everybody. They didn’t even ask for the person that had dealings with the sex worker. They beat me and other people there. One of them hit my right eye with the butt of his rifle. I started feeling pain but the beating did not stop.

What offence were you accused of committing?

They said somebody among us sexually abused the lady and without asking who even did that, they descended on us and beat us mercilessly. I thought I would die that night but God saved me.

What happened after that?

We were taken to the police station and we were there for four nights.

Were you taken to hospital for treatment?

Which treatment? You don’t know these people at all. But no matter how terrible a team may be, there will still be one nice person among them. One of them bought drugs for me and that was the only medication I was given.

We were later taken to the commissioner of police at the time and I told him I was a corps member and was brutalised by his men.

The commissioner of police was confused; I think he was nice but he wanted to be sure that I was innocent. He asked me to swear with the Bible and I did. I told him one of the SARS men bought a drug for me and I showed him the drugs. It was at that point that he believed I was not lying. I showed him the SARS man that bought the drugs for me.

What happened after that?

Before that, the OC SARS (officer in charge) brought out some weapons and put them before me. He then took my photograph together with the weapons. He brought out some guns and knives and other things and said they found those weapons on us.

So, we were eventually arraigned in a court – I think a Magistrates’ Court around Fajuyi. We were charged for armed robbery; that was when I knew some policemen are worse than the devil himself. You beat me up, damaged my eye and still called me an armed robber. It was terrible.

How did the armed robbery case go?

A fellow corps member who is a lawyer assisted us a lot. She got a lawyer, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to defend us. The case was argued and we were later acquitted when the judge saw the inconsistencies in their claims.

What happened after you were acquitted?

I wrote a petition against the police. The Inspector General of Police at the time sent some policemen to my house at Adebayo, where I lived then. The matter attracted public attention and sympathy because I was a corps member. The policemen brought the OC SARS to my house. I saw that they had tortured the SARS men that came to our house and asked if I could identify them. They came in three vans. They brought out the OC SARS and he had wounds all over his body; they must have tortured him. Those who brought them asked if they were the policemen that beat me and I said yes.

How did it go after that?

I became afraid. I saw how the OC SARS was beaten and knew if he was released, he could arrange for me to be killed so I left my house and lost interest in everything. I didn’t want to be killed. I didn’t get anything else from the police.

Did the National Youth Service Corps get involved in the case?

That was what got me angry. The NYSC did not do anything. Some corps members said they would disrupt the passing-out parade because of my case. They said the NYSC ought to have supported me but they left me to my fate.

What happened to the right eye where the policeman hit you?

The eye became blind completely. I can’t see anything with it. When I close my left eye, I can’t see anything. I was looking horrible with it and each time I saw myself in the mirror, I always cried. I cried for many reasons: One, I lost one eye all of a sudden, not because I committed any offence, but because some people just oppressed me.  Also, the eye reminds me of what I passed through then. But I thank God, I am alive.

One of my friends came from overseas and was told I had become withdrawn because of the bad eye. He took me to hospital and I was given an artificial eye. I can remove the artificial eye and put it back. It’s better now because if you don’t come close to me, you won’t observe that I can’t see with it. After the incident, I was treated at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.

What are you doing now?

I worked with the Anambra State Government for some time but I am in Abidjan, Côte D’ Ivoire now to learn a skill from one of my brothers.

Were you around during the #EndSARS protest?

I was not around. I was in Abidjan during the protests.

Would you have joined the protest if you were in Nigeria?

I would not have joined the protest but I would have joined in sharing the story of how SARS took one eye from me and still arraigned me in court as an armed robber. It was God that saved me; if the court had believed them, that might have been my end. It is only a fool that will not support that SARS must be disbanded. A woman reported an incident to them because she was their girlfriend and they came, brutalised us and took my right eye from me. I know God will surely fight for me even if I don’t get justice from human beings and government institutions.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/how-sars-took-my-eye-framed-me-for-armed-robbery-ex-corps-member/%3famp=1

Man wickedness to man, and if you check well some are from your tribe. I will never forget what an Igbo sars man did to me, UCHE COLLINS even if I no report you, you no go die well.

Kasco:
Man wickedness to man, and if you check well some are from your tribe. I will never forget what an Igbo sars man did to me, UCHE COLLINS even if I no report you, you no go die well.

The IG of police that sends them is also Igbo, anu mpama.

The kind of things that happen to people in this country. You can't blame them when they turn callous and ruthless. It makes it hard for one to have empathy for anyone with authority in Nigeria. The sins of a few have affected so many.

Evil men but funny part is that SARS are still in police force.

This is so bad. tell me the reason why this guy won't lynch any SARS officer that comes his way. I pray he finds justice

Sars is and remain the worst thing that have beffallen marely the youth of this nation.

Framming up people at will, injuring them at will, extorting them at will and even killing at will for years.

My question remains, why didnt our leader says anything in all this years as the news of their inhuman treatment to the public persist?

vanbonattel:


The IG of police that sends them is also Igbo, anu mpama.

Did ig send them to turture inocent nigerians at will?
Did he send them to became kidnerpers?
Biko igp odunyeruha igbu otu osi so-haa?

I hate it when people try to justify crime because it was commited by their own.
James nwafor our tribe man remaine the worst sars oc due to high leve greed for wealth and materialism therrby damaging and killing many.

Lalasticlala

SARS is an insult to the dignity of nigerians and nigeria as a whole. I can't believe it took this long to dissolve this unscrupulous band of miscreants and loosecanons

I cant hold my tears after readin these...may God protect us from dis inhuman an der animalistic behaviour

The revelations that will come at different panels will even make the people more angry with these men of SARS.

They have committed so much mind bugling atrocities that will make one think they are Devil incarnates.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Lalasticlala ooo

vanbonattel:


The IG of police that sends them is also Igbo, anu mpama.

do you have comprehension issue,or you don't understand the point he is making?

Thank God they have been disbanded

Lots of people are in prison serving jail terms for commiting no crime....
The police kills and frame innocent people....

Sars are criminals in human uniform
Plenty experience but who are we gonna explained that to,better make we Dey look.
Sars Ayinla Agbado ijaye brutalized me years ago I nearly died frame me with what I didn’t do.
Under duress person agrees say yes I do am.
Las las na 120k bail
Na God go punish them all and they will never know peace
Whether they disband them or relocate them.
Nemesis would caught them all and one after the other they will meet their water-loo.
Na so so kill robbers go Dey kill them
Because they wicked me that year and na so so wickedness and evil will be theirs and their generations.

You should thank God u are even alive to tell the story. Many like u are dead already. I'm very happy what the rewards the police got from this Endsars. They will keep themselves in check when normalcy is restored.

That's the reason we want #Endsars.
Was also a victim 2 years ago when my bro came back from Europe. Infact no need for sars tales. They have cursed more than a harm to humanity here in Naija. We don't want sars nor swat.

WonderManly:


https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/how-sars-took-my-eye-framed-me-for-armed-robbery-ex-corps-member/%3famp=1

The Government was aware of their menace but gave a BLIND eye and DEAF ear because they (SARS)were one of their tools for opposition harassment!
However there is a saying that NOTHING LAST FOR EVER!

Proactivity Leads To Productivity!

We still keep the
Moooooove
#EndSARS

©Seniorwriter

now the disbandment of sars is really a good time.. that heinous crime won't resurface ever again...

In saner climes....every single case handled by these devil's would be revisited and possibly expunged. With damages paid to the innocent citizens.
This is Nigeria...where chaos and anarchy prevails so this too will pass and nothing will be done about it.

I still remain glad I had no run ins with them in Nigeria, touch a hair of anyone I know who didn't commit any offence and I'd make sure I wipe away you and ur entire family in a freak accident.

Special Armed Robbery Squad

SenecaTheYonger:


C’mon close your smelling mouth. Do they even listen to IG of police? How many times has he tried to ban them and they never go away? They don’t get orders to be wicked, they do it on their own freewill ode.

This guy na zombee

Damnnn niggarrrr
Too bad

Sars too do sha

vanbonattel:


The IG of police that sends them is also Igbo, anu mpama.

C’mon close your smelling mouth. Do they even listen to IG of police? How many times has he tried to ban them and they never go away? They don’t get orders to be wicked, they do it on their own freewill ode.

Sars
May all you atrocities find you
May you never attain the age of 40
Sars killers will die prematurely

Chua