Kidnapping and demand for ransom are no longer frontpage news in the Nigeria media, but what baffles Nigerians is the new dimension of the crime (kidnapping) as a policeman, who is a lawenforcer, goes into dogs’ kidnapping and demanding for ransom from the owners.
This beats the curiosity of neighbours and passersby who gathered at the Central Police Station, Stadium Road in Minna, Niger State, where the incident happened.
Has the crime rate reduced to the level that police officer in full uniform
to intimidate law-abiding citizens? What would have prompted a police Sergeant to demand for ransom before allowing a licensed dog dealer, Wilson Bolade, who had travelled from Zuru in Kebbi State to continue on his journey to Edo State, is part of the questions people are asking.
While trying to avoid the ‘bad boys’ on the highways at nights, Wilson, who narrated his encounter with the police, recalled how he and other Edo State-bound co- travelers and the space wagon carrying dogs became unexpected guests to the police. He lamented that kidnap of the animals by the policeman after disrupting their journey has caused the deaths of some of the dogs.
A police officer whom he later known as Sergeant James David Bature, he said, had accosted them as they stopped to pass the night around Mobil round-about, Minna metropolis at about 2am Sunday and demanded to know where they were coming from with such large number of dogs and where they were going.
Despite detailed explanation of where they were coming from and where they were headed and not contravening any law of the land, Wilson said the police officer refused to let them go; but held them hostage and demanded to be ‘settled’ else….
Because of unexpected expenses on the course of their journey due to vehicle break down, Wilson said that he rallied with co occupants of the vehicle to raise N500 for Sgt Bature but he rejected the sum and instead demanded for N5, 000 or they be arrested.
After series of arguments, Wilson said that they were able to increase the money to N1, 000 which Sgt Bature again rejected and in the ensued argument snatched the car keys from the driver and drove it with the dogs and other occupants to the Central Police station, along stadium road.
The Minna Central Police station, along stadium road, however became a tourist site as residents of the area and passersby stopped over to catch a glimpse of the multitude of dogs ever seen in the state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State command, Bala Elkanah, confirmed the incident, explaining that the dog owner committed offence punishable by law of the land, which prohibits anybody to carry large number of animals in a small car.
The PPRO told our correspondent that the suspect abused the animals he was travelling to Edo State with. “Wilson Bolade was arrested for carrying 95 dogs in a small Shalon space wagon. The offence he committed is cruelty to animals under the penal code. It all depends on the discretion of the trial judge”.
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