A trending video is generating anger in Akwa Ibom State, as it shows policemen, suspected to be men of the Itam Police Division, assaulting a pregnant woman over enforcement of policy.
Shared of Facebook by Mayor Sylvester, the post bemoaned the policemen’s action. In the video, they dragged the alleged vehicle insurance defaulter until she collapsed on the ground.
Mayor Sylvester wrote: “This is what the Itam Police Station in Akwa Ibom State has turned the Third Party Insurance thing into.
“They are now acting like animals. These are the kind of irresponsible characters recruited into the force.
“Imagine how a pregnant woman is being roughhandled. I just hope her baby is still alive.
“If the police want to enforce and ensure every vehicle has third party insurance, why not get the insurance company’s representative to be assigned to every police checkpoints?
“So at the time you discover that the insurance of a car has expired, you easily direct the fellow to meet the broker right where you are and renew the insurance and if that is not possible, you take the car to the station.”
Police mum
Attempts to reach the CP Bala Mohammed Azare, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, and the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Tifon John, through calls and text enquiry could not yield any feedback at the time of filing this report.
The scene created by the development attracted a crowd of sympathisers.
Many were heard asking why the Police would get so violent on the woman.