By Tricia Ikem
Fresh concerns over Nigeria’s investment climate and fears of possible xenophobic backlash have trailed an operation involving armed policemen at a Ghanaian-owned investment in River Park Estate, Abuja.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, June 29, has sparked outrage after a viral video showed armed policemen, said to be attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Nigeria Police Force, escorting a group of men to the Gallery Clubhouse, a recreational facility owned by a Ghanaian investment firm, where part of the entrance was reportedly excavated.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the armed officers prevented staff from stopping the operation and declined to disclose the authority under which they were acting when questioned.
In the now-viral video, one of the armed men repeatedly ordered a staff member to stop recording the operation, insisting that filming him without his consent violated his fundamental rights.
”Why are you videoing me? I am giving you a lawful order; stop videoing me. The whole world will see this video. You can’t video me without my permission. You are infringing on my rights. The rights you have as a Nigerian or as a visitor are the same rights I have,” the officer was heard saying.
The staff member, who struggled to explain why he was recording the incident, eventually responded: “The reason for recording is because it is an illegal action to be destroying the place.”
The armed man, however, insisted his rights had been violated and directed that everyone involved should proceed to the police station.
The development has generated widespread concern, with residents describing the operation as an invasion of private property and calling for an immediate investigation.
An eyewitness, Mr. Sajay Omagbemi, warned that the incident could send the wrong signal to foreign investors if not transparently handled.
”We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police and the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done and the law is allowed to take its full course. This matter should not be swept under the carpet because it involves a foreign investor.
”We do not want anything that could create the impression of hostility towards foreign investments or lead to the kind of xenophobic tensions witnessed in South Africa. Nigeria has always been known as a welcoming nation, and we must protect that reputation,” he said.
Other concerned Nigerians also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order a transparent investigation into the incident, saying a swift resolution would reassure both local and foreign investors of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.
They also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the management of River Park Estate and identify the officers involved were unsuccessful. Likewise, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the viral video.
