Pastor in charge of Gracious and Mercy Prophetic International Church, Egbeda, Lagos State, Pastor Ejimozor Williams, has lost his sight due to a torture he allegedly suffered in the hands of some operatives of the Department of State Services in Lagos(DSS).

PUNCH Metro learnt that the 46-year-old pastor’s house in the Ayobo area of the state had been invaded by the security officials after his houseboy, identified simply as Chukwujekwu, defrauded some residents using fake dollars.

When the officials failed to arrest the suspect, who had fled, they ransacked Ejimozor’s home and found some of the counterfeit currency.

He was reportedly bundled into a DSS operational van, where he was subjected to different forms of torture.When he sought to know the identities of the men, one of the officials allegedly hit his head with the butt of a gun.

A few weeks later, he was said to have become blind. Despite visiting no fewer than eight hospitals, the Rivers State indigene had yet to regain his sight.

Ejimozor said he formerly owned a hotel and a house in Abuja, which were demolished by the Federal Government, adding that he later relocated to Lagos to start a new life.

He said, “I started working as a freight worker at the Apapa port where I met the houseboy. Someone actually introduced Chukwujekwu to me and I decided to help the boy.
“After some time, he told me that he wanted to travel and that I should borrow him some money. I told him I didn’t have any money, so he went to meet a man called Okoye, an old friend of mine. Okoye gave him some fake dollars.”


He added that Chukwujekwu showed the dollars to a barber in the area, saying his relative abroad sent him the money and could also help the barber secure a visa to travel overseas.

The barber allegedly parted with N30,000 for the visa and handed the suspect his passport.

Chukwujekwu reportedly fled the house after defrauding several other residents on the street.

“On May 9, 2014, I was at home when about six persons scaled the fence into my compound. They wore black shirts and were armed.
“They came into the house with Okoye and three other gunmen. They began to search the house and beat up people in the compound.
“During the search, they found the fake dollars Chukwujekwu used to defraud people in the area. They said I should sign a statement, but I refused. They beat me up,” he added.


He explained that he was put in a DSS vehicle and taken away.

He said when he asked what he did wrong, one of the gunmen hit him with the butt of a gun in the head, threatening to kill him.

Ejimozor said a part of his skull was compressed after the assault, adding that he was later driven to the DSS office on CMD Road, Magodo, Ketu-Ikosi.

He said, “It was when we arrived at their head office that I realised they were DSS officials. They chained my hands and feet. The next day, they informed me that Okoye told them that we both used fake dollars to defraud people. I denied the claim.
“I was held incommunicado for three weeks and was constantly tortured.
“The DSS later said before they would release me, I must pay N15m which I didn’t have. I told them that all I had was N20,000. After another round of torture, I fainted and was rushed to a clinic where they told them that my blood pressure was low.”

He added that he was immediately transferred to the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department of the Lagos State Police Command.

After spending two weeks at the SCIID, Ejimozor said he was arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court.He was reportedly remanded in the Ikoyi Prison pending when he would fulfil his bail conditions.However, while in the prison, the victim said he had a migraine and was rushed to a hospital.

“This led to a partial stroke. I was at home some weeks later when everywhere suddenly went blank. I couldn’t see anything again and that was how I went blind.
“Now, I cannot do anything for myself and my family. I am frustrated. I also have diabetes and high blood pressure,” he added.


His wife, Mrs. Chinyere Williams, said they visited more than eight hospitals together without any result, adding that her husband was later asked to go for a CT scan

She said the scan revealed that he could not see because his brain had been affected after he was hit with the butt of a gun.

“We have been married for 18 years and seeing him like this is like hell. Since he came out from the DSS cell, it has been one sickness after another. I had to carry him on my back several times from the house to hospitals,” she added.

Chinyere said the case against her husband at the magistrate court was struck out because after the first arraignment, neither the DSS nor the police showed up in court.

She called for the punishment of the DSS officials and appealed that her husband be flown abroad for a brain surgery that would correct the problem.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, described the attack as a breach of the rights of the victim, saying the DSS must end the practice of torture.

He said, “The family has given us a firm instruction to pursue the matter legally. Beyond asking for exemplary damages for him, we also intend to use his case to stop the practise of subjecting innocent members of the public to torture.”

The Lagos DSS could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report

http://talkgeria.com/topic/lagos-pastor-goes-blind-after-dss-torture/

What's the meaning of this?

When the international community sanction us on human right abuse, we will be saying it's a lie.

I believe we all can see why they refuse our forces sophisticated weapons? God help us in this country

Buhari should be blamed. He gave those rascals, i repeat, those rascals too much power.

BUHARI would rot in hell

OH GOD I AM SO SCARED FOR THIS DSS PEOPLE. IT COULD BE ANYBODY. THEY ARE CRUDE. NO TRACES OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THEM . THIS IS NOT THE COUNTRY WE SIGNED FOR . EVEN IF HE COMMITTED THE CRIME, TORTURING LIKE THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER. I PRAY HE TAKES THEM TO COURT. THIS IS UNFAIR TO HIM N HIS FAMILY N WE NIGERIANS. WE ARE ALL CITIZEN OF THIS NATION. WE ARE NOT ANIMALS AND DSS SHOULD STOP TREATING US LIKE ONE

DSS re above the law in this adminstration

imagine

If you really want to torture me, sit me in a room strapped to a chair and put any YBNL records on.
I'll confess all


I witnessed a close friend of mine goes blind after fall from Okada. After surgery,
He regain his sight

Asking questions is an essential part of police investigation. In the ordinary sense a police officer is free to ask a person for identification without implicating or torture
UN is watching our DSS

What a country

Bastard DSS!!! People that don't know their work.. Smh

That's not a problem...he is a pastor, right? He performs miracles right?... and collects tithes and offerings...first fruits and last fruits...prophetic offerings...? This is the time to prove the miracle with himself. It's not a case; it's a test of faith. Let him lay hands on himself.

bubu shall Neva go unpunished

Damn!

Osinbajo must cut the DSS to size soonest.

DSS is now becoming a problem; they are fueling all the negative media stories about them and this will surely impact on the public trust on their operations.

Change begins with you and me

Please put why he had issues with DSS in the topic.


They will not read before shouting.

Bubu

Islamization


Without even reading details.

As much as the action of DSS is not appropriate, we should learn to read nd react to the issue not the Topic.

It should be there so nobody claims it is religious or politically motivated.

o ga o

Fake dollars was seen in his house... He must have defrauded so many innocent people... DSS on d other hand acting like James Bond everywhere... Nah Wah o

Majority of NL are either lazy to read or kids. Including all the comment above me;

“On May 9, 2014, I was at home when about six persons scaled the fence into my compound."

The incident happened in 2014 and not 2017. All the law enforcers in Nigeria have always used torture to interrogate people. I'm not in anyway supporting the DSS for their actions cos its completely wrong and i wish the guy can get justice but as u all know, not in Nigeria.

people above me but why

too many loopholes in the story...

Unfortunately d pastor is suffering for crime committed by these two people from that part of d country.
You are brothers anyway. May God heal you.


So 15m would av set the man free suppose he was truly involved and agreed to pay?? Money to cover crime?
Hmmmm..... This DSS sef, just like police and money.

Everyone working for their interest. #mtchew

Sad story
Make we here the DSS STORY also.

ShitHead:
That's not a problem...he is a pastor, right? He performs miracles right?... and collects tithes and offerings...first fruits and last fruits...prophetic offerings...? This is the time to prove the miracle with himself. It's not a case; it's a test of faith. Let him lay hands on himself.

You are indeed a ShitHead

See story....

ShitHead:
That's not a problem...he is a pastor, right? He performs miracles right?... and collects tithes and offerings...first fruits and last fruits...prophetic offerings...? This is the time to prove the miracle with himself. It's not a case; it's a test of faith. Let him lay hands on himself.

Are you OK at all?

This is inhumane and barbaric.

Since the advent of Buhari, the DSS had taken over the work of the police and had been maiming people

Chai!! leaving in this country is like entering one chance vehicle cus anything can happy anytime without being notice.

Just see how we've Progressively moved from Democracy to Anarchy. No thanks to the Sai Baba chanting ZOMBIES that Sold APC to gullible Nigerians.

Substitute person's arrest is ILLEGAL and a gross infringement of one's inalienable rights. But for the Daura Secret Service, EVERYTHING IS OK UNDER THEIR GWORO CHEWING LEADER.

There's an extent to which you can push people to, and they REVOLT, YES, REVOLT AGAINST OPPRESSION AND OPPRESSORS.

THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! SAY NO TO DSS BRUTALITY UNDER BUHARI

AntiWailer:
Please put why he had issues with DSS in the topic.


They will not read before shouting.

Bubu

Islamization


Without even reading details.

whatever the issue was, the had no reason to torture him. Don't we have our human rights in this country anymore? if someone commits a crime, the person should be jailed and not be tortured.

The story is tricky. But there is need for urgent reforms in all the security forces. Their crude mode of operation only evokes more hatred towards them, deepens distrust and spills innocent blood. Nigeria is going nowhere with dysfunctional justice and security systems as we presently have.

You still wonder why the country shows every sign of a cursed entity? Injustice with shedding of innocent blood is enough to pull any nation into abyss.