•NIS spokesman: I’ve important things to do
A businessman, Chidi Nzelu, yesterday accused officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oron border, in Cross River State, of torturing and extorting money from him.
Nzelu, an indigene of Ojoto, in Anambra State, alleged that he was stripped, beaten up and made to call his relatives to send N100,000 or be killed.
He alleged that he was tortured on February 20 and accused of defrauding Deyong Bruno, who he claimed to have assisted on February 12 while returning to Nigeria from Cameroon.
Nzelu said he innocently assisted Bruno, who claimed to be a Cameroonian and was in Nigeria for the first time, not knowing the man was a mole in a gang of fraudulent officers, who specialised in extorting money from people.
The victim said: “I sell pharmaceutical products and usually travel to neighbouring countries. I cannot walk. I am in pains following the torture Immigration officers at Oron in Cross River State meted out to me.
“On February 12, I was returning to Nigeria after a business trip to Cameroon. I boarded a boat from Edinau in Cameroon to Oron and in the boat; I met a man who showed courtesies.
“He introduced himself as Deyong Bruno and we chatted. He told me he was coming to Nigeria for the first time and that he wanted to do a survey on a bakery he planned to establish in the country. I told him I knew nothing about bakery.
“After about two hours, we arrived Oron. I stepped out of the boat and went for my clearance. When I finished and was about to leave the office, Bruno approached me and pleaded that I should help him beg the Immigration officers to consider him because he didn’t have the required documents.
“I joined him and begged the NIS officers and they gave him discounts on the amount he was to pay. They collected N3,000 from him.
“As I was about to leave, Bruno approached me and asked my next destination. I told him I was to go to Onitsha, but since it was late, I would sleep at Uyo and continue my trip the next day. It was about 7 pm.
“This man said he wanted to visit Uyo. I innocently allowed him to follow me. I did not know he had evil intention. I was just being nice to a foreigner.”
Nzelu said he boarded the same taxi with Bruno to Uyo and they lodged at the same hotel.
He went on: “We stayed in different rooms. While I was checking out the next morning, the man came to me again and said he would be returning to Cameroon to go and prepare and then come back with the machines for the bakery.
“Then, he begged me for fare, saying he didn’t have money. I gave him N5,000 and left him. I was returning to Cameroon on February 20 through the same route when a group of persons, including Bruno, accosted me after I had undergone immigration procedures and boarded a boat.
“The man, who claimed to be a Cameroonian a few days ago, pointed at me and I was asked to disembark. They took me to their office, asked if I knew the man and I said yes. I narrated how I knew him.
“They said the man told them he gave me CFA420,000 (N276,000) to buy goods for him and that he had not seen me since then.
“Before I could utter a word, the officers started beating me. I had a terrible experience. I told them I was innocent, but they refused to listen.
“They tortured me to admit that I collected CFA420,000 from the man. They used tear-gas on me and said if I didn’t comply, they would kill me and throw my body into the river. I begged them to hand me over to the police, whose office was next to theirs, but they refused.
“They asked how much I had and I told them it was only N31,000. They kept beating me. I bled, but they did not stop. They asked me how much was in my account; I told them there was no money in it. When the torture became unbearable, I agreed to give them N100,000.
“They gave me my phone, which they had earlier seized and said I should call my family to pay the money into my account. I called my wife and told her it was an emergency and that she should look for the money and send it. I told her I was in danger.
“She called friends and relatives and finally raised the money, which she sent to my account. Immediately I received alert, the Immigration officers took my ATM card and went to the bank. They withdrew the money, returned to their office and forced me to sign a document that Bruno gave me N100,000, not CFA420,000 and that I had repaid the money.
“After signing, they asked me to go. I could not walk or sit down. I am taking this opportunity to appeal to human rights defenders and others to intervene in this matter. I want justice.”
Contacted, NIS spokesman Sunday James told The Nation that he had important things to do.
James, who was sent a copy of the victim’s petition and pictures on Monday night, kept mute on the allegations until he was reminded on Tuesday afternoon.
