Concerns over the potential impact on investor confidence and Nigeria’s reputation as an investment destination have emerged following an operation involving armed police officers at a Ghanaian-owned investment in River Park Estate, Abuja.
The concerns followed an incident on Monday in which armed policemen, allegedly attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Nigeria Police Force, were seen escorting a group of men to the Gallery Clubhouse, a recreational facility owned by a Ghanaian investment firm.
According to eyewitnesses, part of the facility’s entrance was excavated during the operation. They also alleged that the officers prevented staff members from interfering and did not disclose the authority under which they were acting when asked.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on June 29, has attracted widespread attention after a video of the operation surfaced online.
In the footage, reviewed by our correspondent, one of the armed men repeatedly instructed a staff member to stop recording the incident, arguing 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. You have no right to video me. From the moment I arrived, you started videoing me,” the armed man was heard saying.
Attempts by the staff member to explain why he was recording were repeatedly interrupted. At one point, the armed man advised him to take his complaint to a police station or the Commissioner of Police rather than continue filming.
After several attempts to speak, the staff member responded: “The reason for recording is because it is an illegal action to be destroying the place.”
The armed man, however, maintained that his rights had been violated, saying: “You can do that to a layman policeman, not a wise man like me. I know you are videoing me.” He subsequently directed that those present should proceed to the police station.
The incident has since drawn concern from some residents and observers, who said the circumstances surrounding the operation warrant an independent investigation. Some described the action as an alleged intrusion onto private property and urged the relevant authorities to establish whether due process was followed.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Sajay Omagbemi, warned that unless the matter was transparently investigated, it could send the wrong signal to foreign investors operating in Nigeria.
According to him, “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.”
Other concerned Nigerians also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order a transparent investigation into the incident, saying a prompt resolution would reassure both local and foreign investors of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.
They also called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the operation are thoroughly investigated.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the management of River Park Estate on the incident and the identity of the officers involved were unsuccessful.
