By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Public institutions exist for public service. Security operatives assigned to such institutions are meant to safeguard order, protect lives and property, and facilitate legitimate civic engagement. However, when the line between security and obstruction becomes blurred, the consequences often fall on innocent citizens, professionals, and democratic processes.
It is based on this premises that most times, I wonder what joy and sense of power some people, especially certain security personnel, derive from being pedantic in duty, overzealous in approach, and unnecessarily overbearing in the discharge of their responsibilities, at the detriment of humanity and effects.
This age-long question that rings in my heart once again was rekindled again today Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the gate of the Anambra State House of Assembly Complex in Awka.
Earlier on Wednesday, I had set out on official assignment to cover the budget defence of the Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka. After overcoming a minor mechanical fault with my vehicle on the way, I eventually arrived at the Assembly Complex slightly delayed but still within the window of the scheduled engagement. On approaching the gate, one of the officers at the gate, comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), stopped me and ordered that I park outside, which I obeyed, carefully positioning at the spot indicated to me.
“Mr. man, go back and park there,” the male officer had sternly ordered, gesturing aggressively as if we already had an outstanding issue. Like I said, I complied without argument of any delay, having been enough delayed already on my way.
After alighting and arranging myself, I headed towards the entrance of the Assembly premises. Surprisingly, the same officer called me back, this time more politely, asking who I was and where I was headed. I properly identified myself as a journalist and informed him that I was on assignment to cover the budget defence of the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources. From where I stood, I could clearly sight the Commissioner in company of other journalists inside the premises.
To my surprise, despite these identifications and explanations, the officer insisted that I must call the Commissioner to clear me before I could be allowed access into the complex, even after I had satisfactorily identified myself and clearly stated my mission. I explained to them that both the Ministry’s Information Officer, Mrs. Azuka Offor, and the Public Relations Officer of the House, Mr. Emma Madu, were visibly engaged in an ongoing interview inside the premises. I told them that I had even attempted calling Mrs. Offor, but she declined the call —an obvious indication that she was busy. On this basis, I then further explained to them that calling the Commissioner under such circumstance would be disruptive and distractive to what he was discussing inside there, as could be seen from the gate that both himself and other journalists there were busy.
Despite these explanations, as I made another attempt to enter, the officers blocked me again, raising their voices and physically pushing me backward. Even when I suggested that one of the six of them present there should accompany me to the place and bounce me out later if the Commissioner denied inviting me for that assignment, they also turned it down, and insisted that I must call him to clear me. Now, Sensing that the situation could degenerate into “their words against mine” or allegations and counter-allegations later on, I brought out my phone activated the audio recorder on my phone there in their presence and to their knowledge to document what was happening.
At that moment, another vehicle arrived at the gate, and its occupant began discussing privately with one of the officers, a bit far from where we were. Later, he passed. Suddenly, while these were going on, one of the officers expressed discomfort that my audio recorder was on. Consequently and shockingly, they forcefully seized my two phones, stopped the recording, and began going through my phones, while still blocking me from entering the premises.
Their fear of being recorded actually worried me, because if indeed they believed they were doing the right thing, acting within the confines of law and proper procedure, why the panic over the recording of what was going on, even with their full knowledge? This impasse lingered until the Commissioner completed the interview that I had come to cover, by which time I had already lost the purpose of my assignment there.
Disappointed, I told them to release my phones so I could leave, as the purpose of my visit had already been defeated. Even at that point, they still refused to hand over my devices. Instead, one of the policewomen went to call the Public Relations Officer of the House, Mr. Emma Madu, to the gate. Upon arrival, after listening briefly, he described the situation as “complex” and walked away.
Rather than giving me my phones and allowing me to go, the officers declined. And worsening the situation, they then insisted that I must follow them inside the Assembly Complex to “clear myself” with the Commissioner before my phones could be released. Left with no option, I followed them.
Upon arrival within the complex, the Commissioner was engaged in a private discussion with a few individuals, while journalists who had completed interview sat beneath a mango tree. I showed the officers the Commissioner and advised that we give him time to conclude his conversation before approaching him. Despite this suggestion, they even wanted to approach him there, before even a staff of the Ministry reinforced my suggestion.
Meanwhile, as that was going on, the Member representing Ogbaru I Constituency, Hon. Noble Igwe, called us and asked what the problem was. In response, a female police officer, who is the Head of the Security Unit in the House, explained the situation to him and shockingly added that they intended to detain me at the B-Division “to teach me a lesson.”
Without requesting to hear my own account of the incident, the House Member upheld the officers’ position and stated that I had insulted the House. He further remarked that I was fortunate that the Speaker was not present. By then some sympathizers had already started telling me to apologize to him and the police officers, even though I was still yet to understand what exactly my offense was.
As this verdict was being pronounced, the Commissioner had concluded his discussion, calling me and approaching the scene to inquire what was happening.
As I attempted to explain to him, the police officers, now emboldened by the House Member’s support, began dragging my trousers and pulling me forcefully for detention at their detention post at the gate.
Even as the Commissioner pleaded with them to wait, they ignored him and insisted that it was already “too late,” maintaining that I must be detained first before anything. It took the intervention of others for them to stop dragging me roughly. Besides, I never refused to move with them, but yet they insisted to drag me embarrassingly prior to the intervention.
When we got into their detention facilities, they ordered me to sit on the bare floor, while also calling me an “enemy of the police” and threatening that I would “pay through my nose today” when finally taken to the station. Ignoring every other thing they were saying, I politely declined to sit on bare floor, insisting that I preferred to remain standing. The overzealous officers continued pressing that I must sit in bare floor, which I refused to. It took the intervention of their leader to restore order, as she told them to allow me to stand if I preferred to remain standing. Shortly after that, I started overhearing them discussing about handcuffs. While these were going on, my phones, bag and some other belongings were still with them.