At the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) panel, Joseph Arikpo, a lawyer, narrated how he was maltreated and assaulted by one SP Solomon Danja, DPO Ikom, Cross River State, when he wanted to facilitate his friend son-in-law’s release from police detention on 8th November 2020. In his narration,
“I went the police station and met an officer on duty and I was told that only the DPO can handle such matter.
“I waited for the DPO to arrive. I met him and he told me that he has been trying to call my friend to see how they can settle the matter.
“I asked why the police detained him for six days and refused to allow his people to see him.
“The DPO looked at me and said I was stupid.”
He noted that DPO “punched me three times and called me stupid again.
“I was dragged, tear-gassed, and locked up for two hours before an officer came to take my statement.
“As my statement was being recorded, the DPO came in with some strange-looking men with batons and cow whip and ordered that I should be restrained.
“I was beaten again.”