● So-Safe says two ad-hoc officers handed to police; commander “does not condone human rights abuse”
A man identified simply as Success has died from injuries allegedly sustained after being tortured by operatives of the Ogun State Security Network, So-Safe Corps, in Oju-Ore area along Coca-Cola Road.
The incident happened on Saturday, June 2, following a domestic altercation between Success, his mother and younger brother at their residence. During the fight, Success reportedly sustained a head injury and was bleeding, according to a Facebook post by Ota Gossip.
The post said Success’s mother called So-Safe operatives to intervene. Instead of handing him to the police, eyewitnesses and videos circulating online alleged the officers took him to an uncompleted building in Oju-Ore where he was subjected to physical assault.
Another Facebook user, Temitope Adeniyi, wrote: “He fought with his mother, so his mother reported him to So-Safe. The next thing, they carried him to an uncompleted building and beat him to death.”
Confirming the incident to _The PUNCH_ on Monday, So-Safe Corps spokesperson Adegunwa Adegbuyi said the officers involved have been handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for prosecution.
“The mother called us to intervene, and some of our ad-hoc staff went. They are supposed to revert, but unfortunately, they took the law into their own hands,” Adegbuyi said.
“Instantly when the case came up, we handed them over to police because the Commandant does not condone anything that has to do with human rights abuse. We handed over the first culprit, and after some hours, we handed over the second culprit to the police for necessary prosecution.”
Adegbuyi said So-Safe Commander Soji Ganzalo had consistently warned officers against human rights abuse and interference in civil matters. He added that the outfit is working with police to ensure justice.
As of press time, Ogun State Police Command spokesperson Babaseyi Oluseyi had not responded to enquiries on the matter.
The death has sparked outrage in Ota and renewed calls for oversight of ad-hoc security outfits and strict adherence to human rights protocols.
