By Abigail Philip David
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has initiated the trial of a police officer accused of harassing a woman during a stop-and-search operation in the Galadimawa area of Abuja.
A video circulating online shows the woman alleging that the officer slapped her and sprayed pepper spray in her eyes multiple times during a routine stop on the night of October 6, 2024, at the Galadimawa Roundabout.
In the video, the woman can be heard saying, “I didn’t do anything to these guys, I didn’t carry anything, I am not a criminal. They asked me to come down, I told them they could check my bag, but there was no need for me to step out. Then they started harassing me, sprayed pepper spray in my eyes three times, and slapped me.”
Reacting to the incident on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter), FCT Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed that the victim had come forward and identified the officer responsible for the assault. Adeh further disclosed that disciplinary actions and trial proceedings have been initiated against the accused officer.
She also urged residents to report any instances of police misconduct through the command’s official complaint channels.
“The police officer assigned to Galadimawa Roundabout for stop-and-search duties, who was involved in harassing a woman on the night of October 6, 2024, has been summoned. The victim has identified the officer, and disciplinary action, including trial, has commenced,” Adeh stated.
