Homeland Security Agents Accused Of Assault, Torture
By Associated Press
08/16/05 "AP" -- -- OKLAHOMA CITY -- Allegations that as many as six federal Homeland Security deportation agents assaulted and tortured a Nigerian man who was shackled at Oklahoma City's Immigration and Customs Enforcement office are being investigated by the FBI, according to a published report.
Complaints were filed by the Nigerian, Daso Abibo, 51, and by Deanna Burdine, 65, a former Homeland Security employee who says she walked in on the assault.
Abibo was deported to Nigeria for working in the United States without a permit. His effort to seek asylum was unsuccessful.
After the alleged assault, Abibo wrote a letter from the Oklahoma County Jail in which he said he was attacked by five or six Homeland Security employees after telling an officer he wanted his attorney to review a deportation-related document before signing or placing his fingerprint on it.
"In a flash, five, maybe six officers attacked me," he wrote.
"My legs were in shackles," he stated. "One officer grabbed my neck from the back with his hand pressing it. Another officer was holding tight on my ears, twisting and pulling hard on them as if to pull them off my head ... One officer was twisting my left hand, while another was busy knocking on my Achilles heel's tendon. It was a nightmare. It was so painful, I asked them to shoot me ... dead so they could get what they want.
"This is lawlessness under the law," he complained. "I never fought back."
Burdine supported Abibo's account in letters to the FBI and Oklahoma City federal prosecutor's office.
Burdine was fired in April. She says her dismissal was retaliation for filing the complaint. Burdine is seeking her job back through arbitration.
