Police Probe Midnight Invasion Of Abuja Hotel By DPO, Other Lawless Policemen

The Nigeria Police Force said it has commenced investigation into a midnight invasion of Hotel VIMA in the 1st Avenue area of Gwarinpa in Abuja by some of its officers.

This was announced on Tuesday morning by the Spokesman for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Ade in a post on X.

She wrote: “Investigation into this incident has commenced, the hotel management and alleged victims have been invited. They will be interviewed by the CP this morning.”

The illegal operation was led by the Divisional Police Officer of Gwarinpa in Abuja, Babale Hamza Galadima, arresting all occupants and destroying properties in the hotel during the invasion.

SaharaReporters had obtained videos of the destruction left by the policemen during the incident which occurred on Sunday night at about 11:30pm.

The pictures and Close Circuit TV videos on Monday showed doors and room furniture destroyed by the policemen during the invasion.

Meanwhile, the hotel guests arrested and taken to the Gwarinpa Police Division were asked to pay N500,000 as bail to secure their freedom, as SaharaReporters further learnt from the victims.

Lamenting the development, the Manager of the hotel, who simply identified as Wayne had said that all the staff of the hotel were still detained in the station as of 5:45pm on Monday.

He had said, “At about 11:30pm on 14th of July 2024, some men of the Nigerian police stormed our hotel in a way that we thought it was a robbery seen. All customers and visible staff were harassed, beaten and dehumanised, property destroyed, and everyone on scene was arrested and taken to the station.

“The operation lasted for about an hour, only the receptionist and gateman were allowed to stay back.

“Some laptops were taken, money from the front Desk was taking and some of our customers’ money was also taking.

“The following footage from our CCTV captured,” he had narrated.