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ANAMBRA STATE DPO ORDERS POLICE BRUTALITY AND DETENTION OF TWO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FOR CHALLENGiNG POLICE EXTORTION AND ABUSE OF POLICE AUTHORITY.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) is a network of 46 civil society organisations, spread across Nigeria, and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights. It was established in 2000 to provide opportunity for civil society input to police reform efforts and the enhancement of safety, security and justice.
NOPRIN is seriously disturbed by the information it just received that today, two human rights activists based in Onitsha, Anambra state Justus Ijeoma and Obi Efediorah were brutally assaulted and seriously injured by policemen attached to Inland Town Police Station, Onitsha, Anambra State on the orders of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Cosmos Eze, a Superintendent of Police (SP), with phone number 08037256268.
We are informed that the two activists had gone to the said Police station to secure the release of five women who had been arrested and detained at the station on Friday 6/02/2015. The five women were said to have been detained over an altercation among them.
The names of the five women were given as:
1. Princess Nkiruka,
2. Ebere Okafor,
3. Amara Williams,
4. Nneka and
5. Kelechi.
The investigating police officer (IPO) whose name was given, simply as Mr Kelechi was said to have extorted the sum of 15,000 naira from each of the five women before they were 'granted bail' on that same Friday and asked to report back to the station today (Monday 9/2/2015).
Surprisingly, when the five women reported back at the station today they were re-arrested and detained again.
Upon being informed about this development, the two human rights activist went to Inland-town Police Station to see the DPO and to complain to him about the conduct of the officers involved. Upon informing the DPO that his officers had earlier extorted the sum of 15,000 naira from each of the five women on Friday before releasing them on bail, asked them to report again on Monday and then detained them again over the same allegation, the DPO charged at them, asking if they don't collect money in there offices!
When the activists expressed shock at the DPO's response to their complaint against corruption by his officers, the DPO ordered them out of his office and immediately called in and ordered five police officers including the IPO, Mr Kelechi to 'deal with' the activists. The five police officers descended brutally on the two activists, smashed Justus Ijeomah's I pad and wrist watch and broke his head. Even as he was bleeding profusely from the injury on his head, Justus ijeomah and Obi Efediorah were pushed into the cell.
The DPO has turned down demands that the two activists be released to enable them go for urgent medical treatment or that the DPO should himself ensure the police take them, in particular, Justus Ijeomah, to hospital for treatment to stop the bleeding and prevent any complication. The DPO is rather, said to be claiming that Justus Ijeomah overpowered all his five officers and assaulted one of them.
NOPRIN is shocked that a DPO could, not only justify corrupt practices by officers under him, but also go as far as ordering his officers to brutalise human rights activists for coming to report to him, the misconduct of his officers.
This type of man is not fit to be retained as a police officer in a civilised and democratic society let alone allowed to occupy such leadership position as the high and responsible office of a DPO.
NOPRIN has further information that corruption and abuse are very much entrenched at the police station with several poor, innocent and helpless people subjected to extortion, brutality and abuse on daily basis. The police officers at the police are said to frequently detain people for as long as 23 days until they are able to 'bail themselves' with huge bribe demanded by officers with the consent of the DPO.
We are informed that currently, the following victims are currently in the cell at Inland Town Police Station, Onitsha for their inability to pay the huge bribe demanded by the police:
1. Adekunle Okwuawo, detained for 23 days; police demanding bribe of 50,000 naira for bail.
2. Chinedu Okoye, detained for 21 days allegedly for owning someone a debt of 20,000 naira; still detained despite having paid the debt. The police are said to have told him that since he could make contacts from cell and raised money to pay his debt, he must also pay the police the sum of 50,000 naira before he would be released.
3. Chinwendu Okorie, a student detained for 6 days; police demand bribe of 20,000 naira for his bail.
4. Tobias Ugoh, detained for 1 day, police demand bribe of 20,000 naira for his bail.
5.Onyinye Okeke, detained for 1 day; police demand bribe of 20,000 naira for his bail. His family members are said to be making frantic efforts, including to borrow money this night, to pay for his release.
CALL:
NOPRIN calls on the CP Anambra, Mr. karma Hosea Hassan to ensure a prompt, impartial and exhaustive investigation of the conduct, not only of the DPO, but also all the other officers involved in extortion of the detainees and brutality against the human rights activists. They must be brought to account if found culpable.
Okechukwu Nwanguma
National Coordinator
08064974531
The CP Anambra may be reached on the following mobiles: (07039194332 08024922772 08075390511 08182951257),
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
Breaking News : Anambra DPO orders arrest of 2 Human Rights , 5 women
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
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