A passport applicant identified as Omoboriowo Emmanuel has suffered a neck fracture, broken ankle, femur, toes, and a dislocated arm after he was allegedly assaulted by yet-to-be-identified immigration officers in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The 28-year-old ICT consultant, who was battered and hospitalised afterward, lamented while speaking with journalists that he could not understand how the processing of a passport could rapidly result in a near-death experience.
The native of Ijero-Ekiti has since been admitted to the Emergency Ward of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
Emmanuel narrated that like every other law-abiding citizen of Ekiti State, he had visited the immigration office located at Odo-Ado in Ado-Ekiti, with his fiancée identified as Tomilola, to apply for a passport.
“I had called earlier before that day to book an appointment with one of the officials of the Immigration who is helping out on some travel documents. On getting to the gate of the office complex, I was told by one of the guards at the gatehouse to make a U-turn and park outside the premises but I asked him why I won’t be allowed to use the parking lot. He insisted I take my car outside. I was concerned that it won’t be safe or wise that my car is parked on the roadside as this is against traffic rules on that route.
“As a young responsible citizen, I wouldn’t want to flout traffic rules or be found in the wrong books of traffic officials so I insisted I was going to use the parking lot instead. Suddenly, I was surrounded by three other officers (one of them was fully armed), who started yelling at me to leave the complex. As I attempted to drive my car out, one of the officers started hitting me with his belt and even refused my fiancée entry into the vehicle. While the car was in motion, I accidentally hit two other cars at the lot due to the confrontation by the officers who eventually damaged my car.
“The three officers beat me so hard till I passed out. I was taken to a cell room afterward where they tried to revive and so they later took me to the nearest police station as one of the officers suggested, saying, ‘Let us take him to the police so he won’t die here,'” he narrated.
Emmanuel was consequently referred to the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital for further examination after the doctor had confirmed that he was in a critical condition.
The doctors later confirmed that he suffered a neck fracture, a broken left ankle, femur, and toes, and a dislocated right arm.
Emmanuel has, however, demanded justice, adding that his counsel has been informed of his ordeal, kikiotolunews reports.
“I have done nothing wrong. These officers have treated me unjustly and I want justice. Many citizens go through this horror every day at the hands of uncultured uniformed men and I want the government to proffer lasting solutions,” he lamented.
