Stephen Abuwatseya, a Nigerian Uber driver, has publicly shared his harrowing experience with Abia State House of Representatives member Alex Ikwechegh, who allegedly assaulted and detained him. In an interview with social media critic VeryDarkMan, Abuwatseya described how he was physically assaulted, threatened with being locked in a generator house, and later forcibly taken to a police station under Ikwechegh’s orders.
The encounter, which was partly recorded and circulated online, shows Ikwechegh allegedly striking the driver and threatening to make him “disappear.” Following the incident, Abuwatseya recounts that Ikwechegh called in police officers who escorted him to the police station without allowing him to make any phone calls.
“After the video, he called some police officers. They bundled me to the station, not letting me take any calls,” Abuwatseya recounted. “I was kept behind the counter for more than two hours.”
At the police station, Abuwatseya said he was interrogated by an investigating officer (IPO) and held under surveillance while the IPO investigated Ikwechegh’s residence. Upon his return, the IPO reportedly questioned Abuwatseya’s decision to record the incident.
“The honourable came back to the station, calling me names,” Abuwatseya added. “I wasn’t released until 3:00 am, but my car remains at the station.”
Abuwatseya’s ordeal has drawn widespread criticism, with advocates like VeryDarkMan calling for accountability for the incident. The altercation and subsequent detainment have sparked debates on social media about the potential misuse of power and the need for stricter measures against abuses of authority. Public calls for justice have intensified as citizens condemn the treatment Abuwatseya endured at the hands of an elected official.
