There was confusion at a filling station
along the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport Road after a female
police inspector attached to the Airport
Police Command and identified as Mrs.
Florence Anih, was slapped by
a Nigerian
Air Force lance corporal.
The lance corporal, who was in a truck
marked, Rotary Group 205, was identified
as Friday Zadiel.
Our correspondent learnt that the
incident happened last Wednesday.
Zadiel was said to be with another officer,
who did not wear a name tag.
Our correspondent learnt from an
eyewitness that the victim had driven into
a branch of Forte Oil Filling Station on
Airport Road to fill her fuel tank and
discovered that there was a queue, which
she joined.
However, when it came to her turn, the
station attendant saw that her fuel tank
was not directly facing the pump.
She was reportedly asked to turn her car
for the tank to be in direct contact with
the nozzle.
It was learnt that as she tried to turn as
the attendant advised, Zadiel saw her and
thought she was attempting to beat the
queue.
He was said to have ordered her to go
back to the end of the queue.
In the ensuing argument, Zadiel, who was
in full military outfit, allegedly slapped
Florence.
He was also said to have used his hand
to break the windscreen of the
policewoman’s car.
A witness, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity, said Zadiel and his colleague
had earlier been given preferential
treatment and allowed to fill the tank of
their vehicle because they claimed to be
on a special mission.
He said, “The woman was on the queue
and was not putting on a uniform. When
it got to her turn, her fuel tank was at the
other side of where the nozzle was.
“She was asked to turn and as she
moved forward, the person behind her
quickly filled the space and the attendant
pleaded with the woman to be patient.
“He attended to the person behind her
and was about to attend to her when the
air force man came from the back and
said the policewoman would not buy the
fuel. The air force man said he was on a
special assignment.”
The manager of the station reportedly
intervened and ordered that the woman
be served.
The witness added that Florence,
however, said the officer and his
colleague should be attended to since
they were on a special assignment.
“After they were served, the air force man
insisted that the woman should go back
to the end of the queue.
“He started banging on her car and the
woman challenged him. So, he told her,
‘you are stupid’ and the woman also
replied him, ‘you are also stupid’ and that
was how he slapped her.”
It was learnt that the assault resulted in a
brawl.
