How Men of Nigerian Police maltreated Dr Lucky Nwidu at Port-Harcourt
“My name is Dr Lucky Legbosi Nwidu a Pharmacist, a Senior Lecturer in the University of PortHarcourt and Director of Luckpharm Pharmacy at No 93 Owoloma road Rumuigbo.
I was in my house on the 8th of May 2020 preparing to deliver an online lecture when I had an uproar from the Pharmacy adjacent my house. I heard a call from the Nurses, Sir, Sir come to our help. I thought it was armed robbery attempt.
When got to the Pharmacy I saw two armed police men, a lady in mofty a police woman Mrs. Bukky, draging the Nurse to enter inside the police van from Oxuoba police station paitioned in front of the pharmacy. I requested from her what is the problem. Mrs Bulky,, inspector police lady said the governor authorizer a total lockdown and why should we open the Pharmacy.
I introduce my self and let them know that pharmacist and other health care staffs are permitted to run essential duties. They said no, the Governor authorized a total lockdown. I pleaded that you cannot take away my staff instead arrest me because I permitted them to open the Pharmacy to provide essential services in line with the permit from Ministry of Health.
I was arrested and taken away in the Oxuoba police van. A few metres away from the Pharmacy the police accosted a young girl and a boy who said they were coming to the Pharmacy to buy drugs because of acute diarrhoea and they were arrested. We were taken to the police station at Oxuoba. I insisted to see the DPO CSP Ogowoke, Inspector Bukky said she has informed the DPO and he has authorized my detention that I am sabotaging the lockdown.
I became confused as I was undressed put inside the cell whose dimensions are 12ft by 12ft. After 1 hour the DPO came to count the number in the cells we were 19 inmates. I pleaded to go in the cell with my face-mask the police denied me. Every 10 to 20 minutes the Police kept bringing in their culprits. By 1pm I pleaded to make call to my family to arrange for my bail. At this time we were 39 inmates.
Inspector Bukky the IPO who arrested and detained me – I had an altercation with her that you cannot have so many OPM bangles in your hand and being this wicked to arrest someone going to fill a prescription for diarrhoea. I told her I am a minister in OPM and I teach in the Sunday School Department and what she is doing is contrary to what the church whose bangles are loaded on your hand preaches.
She got infuriated that I am a fake pastor of OPM she will deal with me.
After she has dealt with me till 1pm and I was inside cell helpless. I called her and pleaded with her to allow me make a call for someone to come and bail me. She brought me out of the cell gave me my phone I call my family to meet my Barister to come and bail me. When my Lawyer came, introduce himself, Inspector Bukky was so infuriated at me why do I have to call my Lawyer and not my wife.
My Lawyer brought the permit from Ministry of Health authorising healthcare personnel to run essential services.
He was rebuffed by the DPO and the IPO Bukky, he was told to bring #100, 000.00 if not the police will send me to quarantine centre. From about 2pm my Lawyer came after much pleading the IPO collected #20,000 and released me from detention.
Over 20 years ago I swore to the Pharmacy oath to be a faithful Pharmacist who will provide pharmaceutical services to my community, the major reason for which the police because of greed arrested me from home for over seven and half hour without food and water.
Nigerian is this fair to me and my profession, Pharmacy?
The police have to return the money paid to them by my Lawyer and tender apologies to Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Nigerian Bar Association for this iltreatment.
All the officers and DPO who meted out this unlawful detention to me need to be sanctioned. Make this post viral until the Inspector General of police is reached.
Dr Lucky Nwidu
Director Luckpharm Pharmacy.”
