HOW TO HANDLE POLICE ASSAULT IN NIGERIA AS A VICTIM

Good morning, friends.
Has it ever occurred to you that you can be on top of the situation if a police man assaults you? Do not ever think that you cannot fall a victim of assault by a police officer because you are a law-abiding citizen of the country. You will be surprised that, even as a clergy man, you can suffer physical assault and dehumanizing treatment at the hands of an overzealous police officer.
Below are some tips on how to conduct yourself in such situation.

It is important to note that police assault often arises at the time of arrest.If a policeman approaches you to effect an arrest.It is your right to first of all ask the officer to identify himself by showing his identity card but do it with courtesy.Even, if you think the arrest is unwarranted, as a law-abiding citizen, you should surrender yourself first.Whether or not the arrest is unlawful is not a question for you or the police officer to determine there and then.This is an issue you can thrash out later administratively with his superiors or, after exploring all the administrative means, take to court.Ordinarily, by this approach, physical struggle between you and your arrester should not ensue in the first instance.

If, however, despite your calmness, the officer still mal-handles and assaults you, you should still stay calm so that you can report him to his superiors thereafter.
Before you can successfully lodge a complaint against an erring police officer, you must have crammed his name and his force number.Policemen in uniform are expected to be wearing their badges on their chests.First look out for the badge immediately you have an encounter with one.The badge carries his name.Also look out for his force number which should be on the sides of the sleeves of his uniform.Only one force number is given to an officer of the Nigeria Police Force and he does not share it with any other officer.

If you can quote the name and the force number of a police officer, it becomes  possible for you to identify him in the process of redress of grievances.

Assuming a police officer is extremely mad at you obviously for no reason, you should find the above tips helpful.Just make sure you can identify him as recommended above and engage your lawyer to petition his superiors for redress.Also note that in no circumstances should you attack a police officer physically even if he is extremely mad at you especially when such officer is carrying a gun.As the saying goes:'You don't argue with a man carrying a gun'.You can never tell, he may be sick.
Also, when you are under arrest, you have a right to remain silent even at the police station until you see your lawyer.It is a right that no police officer can take away from you.

I am sure that these tips will go a long way in improving your interaction with the Nigeria Police Force now as an informed citizen.

See you on Monday. Till then, have a blissful weekend!