Two men alleged to have assaulted a woman over non-payment of market levy were on Monday arrested and detained by the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Terwase Aye Abere and Mayange Aondowase, both from Igbor village, allegedly attacked the woman at the local market in Igbor, Gwer East LGA after she told them she had not made sales and could not pay the levy.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim, allegedly beaten and dragged half naked by the suspects, was subsequently hospitalised following the incident.

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested after an eyewitness reported the matter to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, who directed BSCPG operatives to apprehend them.

The two men, who are currently being held at the BSCPG facility in Makurdi, claimed during interrogation that they were volunteers attached to the Gwer East command of the security outfit.

A statement by Comrade Mfa Ogiri, a Media Assistant to Har,

Indicated that the suspects told investigators that they were acting on the instructions of their Ward Commander, one Tiletswen, and Ipker, who allegedly directed them to bring the woman to their office over an unresolved issue.

They were said to have explained that after the woman refused to comply with the instruction, they reported back by phone and were allegedly told to arrest her “even by force.”

They further claimed that the confrontation that followed resulted in the woman sustaining injuries and being admitted to hospital.

Reacting to the incident, Har condemned the alleged assault and directed the State Commander of the BSCPG to produce the commanders mentioned by the suspects for interrogation.

Har, in a telephone conversation with journalists in Makurdi, explained that, “an eyewitness, who is a lawyer, reported that the ‘boys’ always collect market tickets,

Of course, they are illegal tickets that they used to collect from people.

“The woman refused to pay, and that’s why they started dragging her. But according to the story of the boys, they said the woman has a case to answer in the office. They asked her to come. She refused to come. And that’s why they want to force her to go to the office.

“For whatever reason, they have no such rights. So I have asked them (BSCPG) to prepare a letter to hand them (suspects) over to the police for prosecution. I’m going to hand them over to the police to charge them to court and they will go to prison.

“When the matter was reported to me, I immediately sent my officers, the commander of BSCPG of Gwer East, Master Warrant Officer Moses Mhoon,

Who rushed to the scene, apprehended them and brought them to Makurdi for detention. Meanwhile the woman is receiving treatment in the hospital.”

The security adviser warned individuals posing as security operatives, particularly in rural communities, against harassing or intimidating members of the public.

“The law will catch up with anyone hiding under the cover of security to harass or intimidate citizens,” Har said. (Daily Trust)