FCT command begins trial of policeman accused of harassing woman

Police. Photo Credit: Elliot Ovadje

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has commenced the trial of a policeman accused of harassing a woman in the Galadimawa area of Abuja.

In a video of the incident sighted by our correspondent, the woman alleged that the policeman slapped her and used pepper spray on her eyes during stop-and-search duties at Galadimawa Roundabout.

The incident was said to have occurred on the night of October 6, 2024.

“I didn’t do anything to these guys, I didn’t carry anything, I am not a criminal. They asked me to come, I told them they could check my back and there was no need for me to come down. These guys started harassing me and used pepper spray on my eyes three times and slapped me,” the woman said in the video.

Reacting to the incident on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter), the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, stated that the victim has since come forward and identified the officer involved in the incident.

Adah added that disciplinary procedures and a trial had already commenced.

She urged residents to report any misconduct through the command’s complaint numbers.

“The police officer assigned to Galadimawa Roundabout for stop-and-search duties, who was seen harassing a woman at night on October 6, 2024, has been summoned. The victim has come forward and identified the officer involved. Disciplinary action and a trial have also commenced,” Adeh said.