KEY POINTS

• The Take It Back Movement, TIB, has accused Lagos police officers of unlawfully detaining a WAEC candidate.
• The TIB alleged that the detainees were being pressured to pay ₦2.5 million or risk prosecution.
• Rights advocates have called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to intervene and ensure a transparent investigation and the immediate release of anyone not connected to the alleged crime.

The Take It Back, TIB, Movement has accused officers attached to the Area P Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos State of unlawfully detaining a West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidate and his father over an alleged case of theft.

The TIB described the incident as a serious abuse of power and a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected individuals. According to the group, the father and son have remained in police custody for several days despite the absence of credible evidence connecting them to the alleged crime.

The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Lagos State Coordinator of the movement, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, popularly known as Scotty Aluta.

Father and Son Arrested After Completing Painting Job

According to the TIB, the detained father had been hired to paint a residential building and successfully completed the assignment with his son before leaving the premises.

The group explained that after they had finished the work and departed, unknown individuals allegedly gained access to the property and stole electrical wiring from the building.

Rather than conducting what the movement described as a thorough and evidence-based investigation, police officers allegedly arrested the painter, his son, and several other individuals in connection with the theft.

The TIB maintained that more than three days after the arrests, investigators had failed to produce any convincing evidence linking the suspects to the missing electrical materials.

The group revealed that it became aware of the arrests following complaints from concerned individuals and subsequently contacted the Area Commander to seek a fair and professional investigation.

According to Taofeek, he urged police authorities to ensure that innocent persons were not punished for an offence they may not have committed.

While police authorities reportedly informed him that investigations were ongoing, the continued detention of the suspects without substantial evidence has raised concerns among rights advocates and members of the public.