Former Super Falcons midfielder Maureen Madu has recently made headlines after accusing the Nigerian police of harassment and intimidation.
Madu, a veteran of four FIFA World Cups and the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, took to the streets in protest, demanding justice for what she describes as inhumane treatment at the hands of the Nigerian police.
The 49-year-old claims she was falsely accused of kidnapping a teenage girl, an incident that has since sparked widespread attention.
The incident
The controversy began with Mr. Uchenna Onyekwunife, who had enrolled his daughter in Madu's academy for summer coaching.
According to Madu, Onyekwunife ceased communication and failed to support his daughter.
When Madu refused to release the girl to an unknown cab driver sent by Onyekwunife, he filed a petition accusing her of child trafficking, kidnapping, and issuing threats.
Madu alleges that the police acted without proper investigation, assaulted her and her staff, damaged property, and arrested her without giving her a chance to explain.
She has called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the officers involved, accusing them of abuse of power and professional misconduct.
In response, the police have promised to look into the matter and discipline any officers found guilty of wrongdoing.
A troubling pattern for Nigerian footballers
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Nigerian footballers have suffered mistreatment at the hands of security forces.
Below are four notable cases of footballers subjected to inhumane treatment by Nigerian security personnel.
Uche Nwofor (2023)
The former Super Eagles striker, with nine caps for Nigeria, took to social media to recount his harrowing experience with the military.
While visiting a friend at the Artillery Barracks in Onitsha, soldiers accosted Nwofor, pinned him to the ground, and forcibly cut off his dreadlocks despite his protests.
Nwofor, who played in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, pleaded with the soldiers to verify his identity, even suggesting they search for his name online.
His ordeal drew widespread condemnation on social media.
Joseph Izu (2016)
Joseph Izu, a defender for Shooting Stars FC, tragically lost his life in Rivers State under controversial circumstances.
Conflicting reports surround the incident.
Some sources claim Izu was hit by a stray bullet during an attack on a market, while others, including his father, allege he was executed by soldiers.
According to his father, Izu was shot in the leg at a jetty and, while in pain, was shot again at close range despite pleading for his life.
The Police gave a conflicting account of the incident that led to his death.
No arrests have been made for Izu’s extrajudicial killing.
Stephen Chukwude (2019)
Stephen Chukwude, a professional footballer, was harassed while travelling to Enugu for medical treatment.
After being stopped and searched by police, officers accused Chukwude of being a “Yahoo boy” (a term for internet scammers) simply because he was driving a Mercedes-Benz.
Despite identifying himself as a footballer and showing his credentials, the officers reportedly rough-handled him and insisted on taking him to the station without cause.
Chukwude said the incident left him traumatized for months.
Kazeem Tiamiyu (2020)
Kazeem Tiamiyu, a former Remo Stars player, died in an encounter with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Tiamiyu and his friend Sani Abubakar were stopped along the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway and accused of being fraudsters.
The SARS officers bundled them into a vehicle, with Tiamiyu’s car driven by one of the officers. When Abubakar protested their arrest, his complaints were ignored.
At some point, Tiamiyu was allegedly pushed out of the moving vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries.
While the officer implicated in his death has been dismissed, justice remains elusive for Tiamiyu and his family.
These cases highlight a recurring issue of abuse and misconduct by Nigerian security forces, particularly toward individuals in sports and entertainment.
Maureen Madu’s ordeal is yet another reminder of the urgent need for reform and accountability within the system.
