A petty trader, Mrs Funmilola Adekoya, has sadly lost a three month-old pregnancy to the alleged brutality of some operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ibadan.
Adekoya, a mother of one lost her pregnancy after the unnamed NSCDC operative pressed an electrical gadget on her belly in addition to spraying her with a gaseous substance after which she went unconscious.
Adekoya was attacked on Sept. 29, at Floor2, Gbangbalolonwa complex, Idi-Ope, Imonlefalafia, Oke-Ado Ibadan.
Mr Francise Adekoya, the husband of the victim said that some people who did not show him any identity card suddenly entered his shop early in the morning demanding for N2,000 tax.
“When the men who were guarded by two NSCDC operatives entered by shop, they claimed to be collecting N2,000 tax for the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue.
“However, I made them understand that I had not made any sales that morning, besides, there was no pre-notice of their coming and so did not prepare any money ahead.
“I pleaded with the alleged tax collectors to give me some hours to make money, probably by afternoon I would have made money, but they threatened to apply force against me.
“Then, they insisted on silling up my shop and I tried to prevent them.
“One of the NSCDC operative later dragged me out of the shop, injected me with an electrical gadget and also sprayed my face with a gaseous substance,” Adekoya explained.
He added that he temporarily lost his vision.
The computer engineer further stated that his wife tried to prevail on the alleged revenue collectors and the NSCDC operatives, but they instead, injected her and also applied the same substance on her after which she collapsed and fainted.
“It took the effort of well meaning neighbours who supported me in rushing her to the hospital before she was revived.
“The medical Doctor told me that it was only God that saved her adding that she has lost the three month-old pregnancy she was carrying.
“As I speak, she is still receiving treatment in the hospital and I have no money to offset the heavy bill incurred.
“I want the government to take a decisive action on this incident because the brutality against poor innocent people might continue if nothing is done on it,” Adekoya said.
Speaking in an interview with reporters in Ibadan Mr Oluwole Olusegun, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of NSCDC in Oyo State confirmed the incident and that the corps was still investigating the matter.
Commenting, Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Oyo State governor said that the incident was condemnable.
Adisa added that he was not aware that anybody could be harassing innocent residents of the state with security operatives to the extent of brutalizing them.
He further said that for the past one year of Seyi Makinde’s administration, the task of revenue collection had been given to a private company to undertake on behalf of the government.
Adisa therefore called on residents to be well informed on who they must pay tax to.
