Worried by the weight and details of the allegation, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has commenced investigation into a complaint lodged by a British national, Mr. Khomeini Bukhari, who alleged that he was on October 29, robbed at gun-point by two policemen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.

According to the complainant, Messrs Samuel Ekpah and Daniel Marcus, were posted to provide security at the Millenium Park by the Maitama Division of the FCT Police Command but they turned into armed robbers, depriving the Briton of N200,000.00 cash and a wrist watch worth over N1.3 million.



Deputy Force Public Relations Officer (DFPRO), CSP Yemi Ajayi, confirmed knowing of the complaint and said investigation had commenced into the matter, and that the IGP has ordered the Force Headquarters to take over the investigation.

He explained that his office had already sent signals to the FCT Police Command inviting the alleged policemen, stressing that given the detailed information and description of what happened as related by the complainant, Bukhari, it would be easy to conclude investigation in no distant time.



The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), FCT Command, SP Jimoh Moshood, said no policeman was posted on duty to the place on the day in question, adding that the information given by the Briton was incoherent and has no bearing with what is known in the Police hierarchy in FCT.

“The man only wants to embarrass us. We were wondering what he could be doing at such a place by 6.00 p.m in the evening alone and no other person was in the entire vast park. We have also asked him to come forward to give a statement but he refused, saying he has travelled.



“The first time the man came, he looked unkempt and untidy and from his physique and the incoherent manner of his statements, it seems he is not in his best frame of mind. I suspect he only wants to embarrass us but we have commenced investigations into his complaints. When we post policemen on duty in the evenings, we give them torchlight but the man said none of them had a torchlight.

“We have even run a check on our system to cross-match the names he gave but we don’t have such names on our staff list. He even said the policemen claimed they were from the Police College, Kaduna, but all these are not true. He has refused to clarify his claims. And we plead with him to come forward so we can get more information that will help us move further in the investigation from him,” the PPRO stated.



Bukhari had sent a distress e-mail to some reporters where he appealed for assistance in bringing the matter to the notice of the Police high authorities, expressing disappointment at the way the FCT Police Command was handling the investigation which he made since October 30th.

According to the Briton, the policemen who were posted to provide security at the Millenium Park turned around to dispossess him of his money and valuables and even threatened to kill him if he should raise the alarm.



He wrote: “I am writing to you in regard to an incident that occurred on Saturday the 29th of October which till this day has left me very shocked and traumatized and has left a scar on me.

“My name is Khomeini Bukhari and I am a British national. I am the Head of Africa Division of the company I work for. I have been going to Nigeria since January 2009 and have absolutely loved every moment of it. This visit to Nigeria was for the purpose of meeting my fiancee in order to make our wedding arrangements and to meet my in-laws once again to formalize our plans.



“On Saturday 29th October, in the evening, I entered Millennium Park in Abuja at 7pm as I wanted to relax. Upon leaving at between 7.30pm and 8pm two drunk police officers stopped me. They told me no visitors are allowed after 6pm. I explained to them I didn't know this as I'm a visitor and when I entered at 7pm there were lots of people and nobody stopped me at the gate. I pleaded with them and they were threatening to beat me and strip me naked and kidnap me and the rest.

“They asked for my I.D. and I said I left it in the hotel. They then searched me. Upon searching me, they found N200,000 in my pocket and took it from me. They took my Breitling Wristwatch (worth N1.3 million) and took it from me, leaving me with practically nothing. They wanted my phone but I begged and cried. They saw my wallet but I had some change in the wallet pocket and not out so they didn't spot it.



“I am writing this as I'm very uneasy and going through psychological trauma. I rang AVM Abbas and he was trying to help me, as I was trying to discreetly call the Special Advisor to the president Mr Timi Alaibe he didn't pick. I couldn't make any more phone calls as they warned that if they see me try and make any phone they will break my phone and told me at this point it is only the three of us so no one can save me, not even the IG of Police nor the President himself.

“I was very afraid. As in the Nigerian news and in the newspapers it always shows how corrupt and dangerous they are and also was very afraid to go to the police station. Over that weekend, I had to borrow money from my friends and live very economically.



“On Monday 31st October I went to the British High Commission in Abuja and called the Foreign Commonwealth Office and they guided me to Maitama police station. The British High Commission also gave me one of their police escorts to accompany me.

“I reported to the DPO of the police station and also wrote a full report including the names of the officers and he gave me one Sgt Samson who after that day did not do anything further.



“The following day I came to the Ministry of Police Affairs. I met with one Mr Victor who said he is the Chief Security Officer to the minister. He took a full report from me and he assured me that as I have given a full report with the police officers' names that within 2 days all will be resolved.

“I asked him about my possessions that were taken of me, he said, that they may not find them but if its the police that did it to me the government will take full responsibility and compensate me.



“That day he gave me a Hilux Truck and sent me to FCT Command under the Minister’s instructions, as he claimed, to go and meet with the Assistant Commissioner of Police (operations) Mr Wilson Inalegwu.

“Upon reaching there he took the documents sent from the Ministry and told me he will assign the best Investigation officer that within a few days all will be resolved, he assigned Mr Alechenu for me, who till date has not given me any feedback.



“I have gone back and forth many times to both places however I am not getting any feedback. Unless I go to them they don’t even call me. Does this mean they don’t care, or are they trying to hide the police officers and cover up the story? Each time I go and meet Mr Victor he just smiles and says, we are doing our best but does not give me any feedback.

"On Thursday 17th November, I went to meet ACP (operations) Mr Wilson Inalegwu and he told me, he wants me to meet the Commissioner of Police FCT the following day at anytime around 11am. Upon arriving the FCT Command the next day at that time, he was away on a meeting and the Commissioner was in his own meeting.


“I sat in the waiting room for quite some time, then left out of annoyance that they are not serious about my matter. The PA to the Commissioner when talking to him, all he said to me was he will let me know when the Commissioner is free. That is not an answer to give someone.



“I am now in Britain and from over here I am still following it up however after giving them my details they have not called me to give me any update.

“Does the Nigerian Police really care that I got robbed of my possessions? I feel they know who the police on duty were. How can it be that after I have given the names, they still have not found them (The two police officers that robbed me, their names are Samual Ekpah and Daniel Marcus). If my descriptions were vague, I could understand but I gave them full details”.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/some-policemen-robbed-me-in-abuja-says-briton/104487/