Family Alleges Persistent Police Harassment in Search for Man Who Escaped Custody

The family of Daminabo Peterside, a 30-year-old man wanted by the Nigeria Police Force over an alleged homosexuality-related case dating back to 2020, has accused the police of sustained harassment and surveillance in an effort to locate and return him to custody.

According to the family, the pressure has persisted since last year, with police officers allegedly making repeated visits to their residence, inviting or questioning relatives, and monitoring their activities to obtain information that could lead to Peterside’s arrest.

The family’s account comes years after Peterside allegedly left the country while on administrative bail following his arrest in 2020.

A senior officer of the Rivers State Police Command, who spoke to Kristina Reports on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, previously confirmed that the Command was searching for Peterside, whom it described as a suspect in an alleged homosexuality-related case.

According to the police source, Peterside was arrested by a patrol team on August 30, 2020, following an alleged assault by an angry mob at the Okrika Waterfront area of Port Harcourt Township.

The police said Peterside had been accused by members of the public of engaging in homosexual activity with another man, who reportedly escaped from the scene.

Another senior police source said Peterside was found severely injured and distressed and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being granted administrative bail.

According to an unofficial police report sighted by Kristina Reports, Peterside was directed to return to the police station on September 7, 2020, to assist with further investigation but allegedly failed to honour the invitation.

The report stated that subsequent efforts to locate or contact him were unsuccessful, prompting the Command to continue efforts to trace and re-arrest him.

However, his family says the police pursuit has extended beyond Peterside himself, with relatives subjected to repeated visits and questioning despite not being the subjects of the original case.

The family alleges that this could be a form of political intimidation as elections approach next year. They say officers have visited or summoned family members under the stated grounds of seeking “helpful information” that could assist investigators in locating Peterside.

They also claim that relatives increasingly feel under surveillance because of the frequency of police attention directed at them.

According to the family, the situation has created considerable anxiety. While they understand that the police may have a legitimate interest in locating someone who allegedly failed to return for further investigation, they contend that the continued targeting of family members has become excessive and intimidating, with a clear political motive underlying it.

The family is therefore calling for restraint and a clear distinction between lawful efforts to locate Peterside and what they perceive as harassment of relatives who are not accused of any offence.

The police have maintained that efforts to locate Peterside remain ongoing and that the case file is still open pending further investigative action.

Peterside could face up to 14 years in prison if re-arrested and convicted under Section 214 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act.

Kristina Reports has not independently established the extent of the alleged surveillance or harassment. The claims concerning police visits, invitations, and monitoring remain the family’s account, and the Rivers State Police Command has not publicly responded specifically to the allegations.

The case also raises broader questions about the treatment of families of persons being sought by law enforcement, particularly when investigations extend years beyond the original incident.

For Peterside’s family, the immediate concern is that a police search that began with one individual has, in their account, evolved into continued pressure on his family and those associated with him.