Adamawa’s Jambutu Residents Accuse Police DPO Of Arbitrary Arrests, Bail Extortion, Torture, Seizing NGO Safe Space | Sahara Reporters

Abubakar said residents eventually gathered 136 signatures for a petition against the DPO.

Residents and community leaders in Jambutu, Adamawa State, have accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Jambutu Police Division, Shadrack Samuel Sivunku, of human rights violations, arbitrary arrests and detention, bail extortion, torture, harassment, intimidation and actions that have damaged police-community relations.

The allegations were raised by Comrade Suleiman A. Abubakar, Chairman of the Adamawa Administration of Criminal Justice Law, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Tuesday.

Abubakar said the controversy began after the arrival of the new DPO, whom residents accused of imposing restrictions on businesses and arresting people in the community during evening hours without clear justification.

He said the community had operated for more than three decades with businesses generally opening from about 7 a.m. until around 11 p.m., while the only established restriction was that commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke-Maruwa, were expected to stop operating after 10 p.m.

According to him, the situation changed after Sivunku assumed office.

“What happened was that, earlier in April, I was in Abuja for the Youth for Peace and Climate Summit because of my commitment to issues like this,” Abubakar said.

“First, I am an activist and a peacebuilder. My community knows that I have been involved in promoting peace and teaching people about these issues.

“When I received the call, I was told that there was a new Divisional Police Officer in town who was ordering shop owners to close their businesses and leave early.

“For more than 30 years, people in that community had been conducting their businesses from 7 a.m. until around 11 p.m., when they would close and return home. The only restriction we knew was that tricycles known as Keke-Maruwa were expected to stop moving around after 10 p.m.

“However, under this new DPO, people were allegedly being arrested as early as 8 or 9 p.m. Many people were arrested while on their way to hospitals and for other legitimate reasons.”

Abubakar said that after returning from Abuja, he visited the community and met with residents before deciding that the appropriate step was to engage the DPO directly.

“When I returned home, I went to the community. We met with the people, and I said, ‘No, let’s go and meet with the DPO.’

“We went to the police station and met with the DPO. We told him about the allegations against him.

“We welcomed him to the community but explained that he was expected to work closely with the community, particularly the family heads, community leaders and the existing Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

“However, the man responded arrogantly, saying that, as a police officer, he had 99 ways of dealing with issues and that even if he committed an offence, he could not escape the consequences.

According to him, the community subsequently told the DPO that it would use legitimate channels to address any alleged misconduct.

“We told him that we had contacts and legitimate channels through which we could ensure that the matter was properly addressed, including seeking his removal from the community if necessary,” he said.

Abubakar said traditional leaders, PCRC members, community elders and other stakeholders were subsequently scheduled to meet over the allegations, with the outcome expected to be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

He said residents initially remained reluctant to speak because of fear, but that the growing complaints eventually led community members to mobilise.

Abubakar said residents eventually gathered 136 signatures for a petition against the DPO.

“When we heard about the meeting, we mobilised some members of the community. Many people initially kept quiet because they were afraid,” he said.

He also singled out a police officer identified as David, whom he described as an officer who had maintained a professional relationship with the community and had been working against criminal elements known locally as “Shilla boys and girls.”

“There is a police officer in the division named David. That officer has been working very honestly.

“We have what we call ‘Shilla boys and girls’, young people involved in criminal activities such as snatching phones and attacking people with knives.

“Many of them operate in the area, and Officer David has been dealing with them. He has been working very honestly without collecting money from suspects.

“Once he has evidence that someone is involved in serious criminal activity, he ensures that the person is taken to court.”

He said residents began going from one part of the community to another to document complaints against the DPO.

“After people began complaining about the DPO, we went around the community, spoke with residents and mobilised them. We wrote a petition and asked anyone willing to sign it to do so,” he said.

“Eventually, 136 people from the Jambutu community signed the petition.”

Abubakar said the petition was subsequently taken to the police headquarters.

He claimed that he later received information that Sivunku had gone to police headquarters to meet Deputy Commissioner of Police John Sandere, where he accused Officer David of colluding with community members to have him removed from Jambutu.

“We then went to the police headquarters. Based on the work I do with the Adamawa Administration of Criminal Justice Law and my contacts within the police headquarters, we received information that the DPO, Mr. Shedrack Samuel Sivunku, had gone to the headquarters to meet one of the Deputy Commissioners of Police, Mr. John Sandere,” he said.

“We were informed that he told Mr. Sandere that David was colluding with members of the community in an attempt to have him removed from the Jambutu community.”

Abubakar further claimed that dissatisfaction with the DPO extended to some officers within the division.

“I subsequently went to the police station. Even among the police officers, many of them were unhappy with the DPO because of collection of money from people,” he alleged.

Abubakar also explained that a woman who lived in the same compound as the DPO’s girlfriend was arrested following a minor disagreement between the woman and the girlfriend.

“There was also an incident involving a woman who lived in the same compound as the DPO’s girlfriend. Following a minor disagreement between the woman and the DPO’s girlfriend, the DPO ordered that the woman be arrested,” he said.

“According to the allegation, she and her child were beaten while in custody. Her case is now before the appropriate authorities.”

He noted that Sandere was shielding the DPO from possible disciplinary action.

“I believe that because Mr. John Sandere is supporting the DPO, nobody is willing to remove him,” he said.

Abubakar said he had contacted Sandere and intended to meet him with community representatives.

“I introduced myself as a resident of Jambutu and as the chairman of the Adamawa Association of Criminal Justice Law,” he said.

“I told him that Mr. Shedrack Samuel Sivunku had [allegedly been] shielding the DPO from investigation.

“We are mobilising five people from the community this morning, together with members of our organisation, to meet with him at police headquarters face-to-face and explain everything.”

According to Abubakar, Officer David’s refusal to collect bribes from suspects has made him unpopular with the DPO.

“Officer David has been doing his best. He has not been collecting bribes, and that is why, according to the allegations, the DPO does not like him.

“We believe he sees David as a threat because David has been standing his ground and ensuring that anyone who commits a crime is taken to court.”

Abubakar also accused the DPO of assaulting three people with whom he had disagreements, including allegations that the victims suffered broken legs.

“There are also allegations that the DPO has assaulted three people with whom he had disagreements, including allegedly breaking their legs.

“He is a very arrogant and, in our view, unprofessional police officer.”

The allegations also extend to a facility established by non-governmental organisations to provide a safe environment for women and girls in the community.

Abubakar said two safe spaces had been established in Jambutu because of concerns over gender-based violence.

“There is also a facility in the community that was built by NGOs as a safe space. We used to have many cases of gender-based violence, so two safe spaces were built in Jambutu, one at the Jambutu Community School and another close to the police station,” he said.

“These facilities were built for women and young girls in the community to hold meetings and discuss issues affecting them.”

He stated that the DPO subsequently removed the women from the facility and began using it as accommodation.

Abubakar stressed that the community is not objecting to the DPO having an adult relationship but said it is investigating allegations concerning the alleged presence of underage girls at the facility.

“As a police officer, we understand that he is an adult and can have a relationship with an adult woman who is above 18,” he said.

“However, there are allegations that he brings underage girls into the safe space. That is another issue we are putting together evidence on.”

He said vulnerable residents in northern communities often struggle to report alleged abuses because of fear and lack of access to justice.

“You know, down here in the North, because of people like us who are exposed and involved in this kind of work, many of the people who suffer these abuses are those who are vulnerable and do not have a voice.

Abubakar also explained that three people were currently being held at the police station after they were arrested at about 8 p.m.

“They were arrested around 8 p.m. When their relatives asked what offence they had committed, they were reportedly refused information.

“The DPO then charged them with being ‘Shilla boys’ and other related offences. However, members of the community testified that the men were not Shilla boys.”

Explaining the term, Abubakar said “Shilla” is used locally to describe young people allegedly involved in street crimes, including phone snatching and attacks with knives.

“They are similar to what you have in Lagos, where some young people engage in criminal activities, including snatching phones and attacking people,” he said.

“Many of them are known to the police and are sometimes arrested.”

He noted that a different approach was being taken when Officer David arrested suspected members of the group.

“However, the allegation is that when Officer David arrests genuine Shilla boys and girls, the DPO sometimes collects money and orders their release.

“While David wants to process the suspects and take them to court, the DPO releases them after receiving money.

“That is why he is against David and wants him removed from the area.”

Abubakar also referred to a previous report by a journalist with TGJ in Adamawa concerning the allegations.

“Based on information from our sources, there is a journalist with TGJ in Adamawa,” he said.

“When he published about this issue, the police headquarters, through their Public Relations Officer, Mr. Suleiman Nguroje, issued a statement saying that they would investigate the matter.

“They said that anyone with evidence should submit it to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).”

However, Abubakar said the community was dissatisfied with that approach, stating that vulnerable residents could be intimidated if required to report directly to the State CID.

“However, based on our own investigation, what we discovered is that they do not want the matter properly investigated, particularly the allegations involving women and girls.

“We believe they are making money through illegal activities involving these women and girls.”

He added that some victims might not feel safe approaching the police to make complaints.

“Not everybody will be willing to go to the State CID because people may be intimidated or harassed there.”

Abubakar said he had subsequently submitted a complaint to the Adamawa State coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, seeking an independent and coordinated investigation.

“Based on what we subsequently learned, I submitted a complaint yesterday to the state coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission.

“I requested a coordinated and collaborative investigation involving civil society organisations, the state authorities and the police.

“We are calling for an open investigation where everyone can come forward with evidence.”

He said the proposed investigation should provide a safe avenue for victims and witnesses to testify without fear.

“A lot of people have evidence, but because of the way the police want to conduct the investigation, they may simply sit at the State CID and tell people to bring their evidence.

“You know the level of human rights awareness in some parts of the North. Many people will not be willing to go because they fear intimidation.

“Even those of us who are educated can be intimidated when we go to such places. Sometimes, people deliberately try to undermine or threaten you.

Abubakar further alleged that the community was investigating claims that the DPO sends money to some officers at the police headquarters.

“What they are trying to establish is that, within that community, the DPO is sending money to some people at police headquarters.

“Some officers are allegedly receiving regular returns, particularly the person in charge of operations.

“According to the information we received, he sends weekly returns. There are certain days when he could allegedly make N500,000 or N700,000 from illegal proceeds collected from members of the public.”

DPO Denies Allegations, Says Community Is Protecting Criminals

When SaharaReporters contacted the DPO, he said he had little to say regarding the matter, adding that the command was seriously looking into the allegations.

He said: “I would suggest that you come to Jambutu and ask questions around. Jambutu is the heart of criminality in Jimeta. All these allegations are simply because I refuse to give them a chance to perfect their criminal activities, such as theft, thuggery and drug addiction. I know for a fact that I have sent a good number of the bad boys to prison. The records are there.”

The DPO explained that the incidents occurred between Saturday, August 15, 2026, and Tuesday, August 18, 2026, when the petition became public.

He said: “We have recorded more than two shops burgled, and last night, some group of boys macheted someone. They are presently in my office. This is just the space they want so they can continue in their evil acts. Nothing more than that, and the authorities are investigating the matter.

“Please understand that I have little more to say regarding this issue, as the command is seriously looking into the matter. Thank you, and God bless.”

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