Police Beat Maureen Madu & Her Players: Anambra Police To Investigate Case
By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Anambra State police command, Wednesday, agreed to investigate alleged assault and humiliation meted on young players and ex-Super Falcons striker, Maureen Madu.
Police officers from Anti Cult Unit, Zone 13, Ukpo had on October 19th, 2024 invaded Madu’s Football Academy at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, brutalised her and team players, who included young girls and boys.
Madu and other victims of the unfortunate incidents were at the Anambra Police command at Amawbia to incident the report and were assured of the police readiness to investigate and bring culprits to book.
The four world cup and two Olympics football Amazon was not only beaten together with her players but had their phones destroyed after which they were later bundled into the security vehicle in handcuffs to sleep and slept in the cel without investigating the petition nor making the man to substantiate his allegations against her.
Madu had called on the Police Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the case and bring the culprit to book.
She alleged that one Mr Uchenna Onyekwunife registered his daughter for summer football coaching in her Academy in June this year and abandoned her in the camp for four months without visiting or paying upkeep only to send an unknown cab man to come pick her up.
She said she refused to release the girl to the cab man because she said she did not know her.
“It was later they showed me a petition signed by one B.B.M. Maduekwe Esq dated Oct. 7, 2024 entitled a case of “Armed Gangsterism, Cultism. Attempt Murder Child Trafficking And Threat To Life” against Maureen Madu. How can a man who registered his daughter in my football academy on his own, gave me custody of the child and sent money for underwear and sanitary pads tell Police that his child has been kidnapped.
“The Police, without carrying out any investigation or asking for my response, just invaded my academy led by the man who is owing to beat up everybody on site, seized and smashed their phones and arrested me in handcuffs. I am demanding that Ayuba Ahmadu, the Officer in Charge of Anti Cult Unit Ukpo annex and the SP Sunday Aleke, be investigated for such abuse of power and unprofessional handling of a case.
“The sad thing is that the man goes about boasting that nothing will happen because he has the AIG Zone 13 in his pocket. I am calling on IGP Kayode Egbetokun to handle this matter, the Police should not be an institution for the oppression of Nigeria masses, not me who served this country with all my youthfulness and is currently supporting youth players,” she said.
Already, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has joined the call for the dispassionate investigation of the matter by IGP, insisting that on no account should security men invade or manhandle award winning sports icon of repute.
