A trending video is generating outrage in Akwa Ibom State, as it shows policemen, suspected to be operatives of the Itam Police Division, assaulting a pregnant woman while ostensibly enforcing the third party insurance policy.
Shared of Facebook by Mayor Sylvester, the post bemoaned the policemen’s action. In the video, they dragged the alleged vehicle insurance defaulter until she collapsed on the ground.
Mayor Sylvester wrote: “This is what the Itam Police Station in Akwa Ibom State has turned the Third Party Insurance thing into.
“They are now acting like animals. These are the kind of irresponsible characters recruited into the force.
“Imagine how a pregnant woman is being rough-handled. I just hope her baby is still alive.
“If the police want to enforce and ensure every vehicle has third party insurance, why not get the insurance company’s representative to be assigned to every police checkpoints?
“So at the time you discover that the insurance of a car has expired, you easily direct the fellow to meet the broker right where you are and renew the insurance and if that is not possible, you take the car to the station.”
The scene attracted a crowd of sympathizers, who wondered why the police would brutalise a pregnant woman in that manner.
Meanwhile, neither the Police Commissioner (CP) Bala Mohammed Azare nor the spokesperson of the Command, Tifon John, could be reached before filing this report.
