The Nigeria Police Force has detained officers of its Zone 11 Cybercrime Unit following allegations that they assaulted students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.
The Zone 11 Police Command confirmed that the officers involved in the operation had been taken into custody as investigations into the incident commenced.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Ojedele, disclosed that all students arrested during the operation had been released. He added that the student allegedly assaulted was taken to a clinic for medical attention before being allowed to leave.
According to the police spokesperson, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Bassey Ewah, ordered the immediate release of the students after meeting with representatives of their association.
Ewah reportedly assured the student representatives that the allegations of assault would be thoroughly and impartially investigated
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He also stressed the importance of professionalism and accountability among police officers, promising that the outcome of the investigation would be made public when completed.
The development followed a petition by the South-West Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
The student organisation accused operatives of the Zone 11 Cybercrime Unit in Osogbo of invading a hostel occupied by students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, and physically assaulting some occupants.
In the petition signed by its coordinator, Josiah Adeyemo, NANS condemned the alleged conduct of the officers and called for an immediate investigation.
Adeyemo alleged that the students were arrested and taken away without their families or student representatives being informed of their whereabouts.
He further claimed that video evidence showed the officers forcing their way into the hostel, intimidating the occupants and manhandling them.
The organisation also alleged that the operatives seized the mobile phones of another student who recorded the incident from a nearby building within the same compound.
NANS demanded that the police disclose where the arrested students were being held and grant their families, lawyers and student representatives access to them.
The group also called for medical examinations for those allegedly assaulted, the return of seized devices where legally permissible and the preservation of all video recordings connected to the incident.
It further demanded an explanation of the legal authority behind the hostel operation and arrests, as well as disciplinary action against any officer found guilty of misconduct.
Videos reportedly recorded during the incident showed two men dressed in black dragging a half-dressed man out of a building, while a woman nearby shouted for help.
One of the men was carrying a rifle, while the two operatives were seen repeatedly slapping the man during the struggle.
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