Man cries to Rivers panel: I lost my sight after SARS torture

A man, Nwaokoro Nicholas, has alleged that he lost his sight 11 years ago after operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad beat him to a pulp near the Olu Obasanjo Police Station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Nicholas, who testified before the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Police brutality and related offences, said trouble started when he parked his bus behind a SARS operational vehicle at the police station.

He said he had nine surgeries on both eyes in Nigeria and India without any luck.

He stated, “As I came out of the police station, I walked straight to where I parked my bus beside a SARS vehicle. As I made to enter the bus, the policemen came after me, there was bashing everywhere.

“Some of them used their rifle on my back. One other person hit me in the face. I was later rescued by policemen from the station rescued.”

Nicholas demanded N8m as compensation to enable him to go for further treatment. Punch