How Anambra Citizens suffer torture, abuse in Anambra Police SARS Okpoko, as IGP receives Petition from Onitsha , Anambra State Human Rights

www.odogwublog.com has received a strong worded petition to the Inspector General of Police over the torture, humiliation , extortion and  abuse of  traders in Onitsha
and environs by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) with aim of enriching themselves. The petition contained names of corrupt officers and phone numbers of abused

February 4, 2015. 

 The Inspector General,
 Nigerian Police Force,
 Force Headquarters,
 Louis Edet House,
 Shehu Shagari way,
 Abuja.
 
 Sir,
 
 CONTINUED CULTURE OF IMPUNITY; CRIMINAL VIOLATION OFTHETENETS OF PROFESSIONAL POLICING AND SUNDRY BREACH OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY MEN OF SARS, OKPOKO ANNEX OFFICE LED BY SUPOL ANTHONY:A CALL FOR SANCTIONS AND SANITIZATION

 The Civil Liberties Organisation, Anambra State Branch writes your revered office on the above subject matter. When the Bible asserted, in the eleventh verse of chapter eight of the book of  Ecclesiastes, that “because crimes are not punished quickly enough, people commit crimes so easily”, it seems the good book had the officers and men of Special Anti Robbery Squared (SARS), Okpoko Annex Office, in mind.  If not, there is no other possible explanation as to why they would continue in their acts of wanton display of impurity, criminally decapitating and milking dry the ordinary citizens, residents and visitors alike, of the commercial city of Onitsha without any hope or respite in sight for the oppressed.
 
 In fact, Sir, the men of SARS have perfected their acts of torture, extortion, criminal conversion of victim’s properties, intimidation, unlawful arrest and other forms of illegality which not only run foul of the Police code of conduct, but are also in breach of other extant laws of the land, including the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 
Our state office is in Onitsha and so no day passes without citizens bringing one report or the other concerning the untoward stock-in-trade of the men of SARS, Okpoko to us.  The scenario suggests very strongly that they have practically abandoned the core essence of establishing SARS, which includes to fight against some high felonious crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping,  and have now chatted a new terms of reference for themselves, which includes debt collection; settlement of dispute between altercating parties with obvious taking of side; unlawful arrest and detention  of innocent citizens with unmasked intent to extort; criminal conversion of detainees’ properties; raiding of drinking joints for mercantile reasons, etc.
 

 It is trite law that he who asserts must prove, and we would have wanted to illustrate each of the aforementioned unlawful, illegal, criminal and immoral acts of men of SARS with at least one incident, but for want of space and in order not to belabour it or engage in unnecessary verbosity, we would restrain our-selves to just a few examples out of a plethora of documented reports and encounters which we have had with them in the last few months- between October 2014 and February 2015.  The following examples/illustrations will suffice to buttress the assertions:

    FRANK IHEGBORO – 08036335311

Frank Ihegboro, a trader cum manufacturer of bar soap had on the 16th October, 2014 hired a bus driver to convey one hundred and twenty (120) cartons of  the soap from his house  to his customers at Relief Market, Onitsha. The driver, Mr. Christian Nliam (08169335242) left with the goods from Frank’s house at about 7am but did not arrive at the shop as expected. He was arrested by men of SARS, Okpoko at Upper Iweka, taken to their office and immediately switched off his phone and detained him incommunicado, without allowing him to contact even the owner of the soap he was carrying or his family members.  The development threw both his family members and the owner of the goods into confusion as they searched for him in almost all the Police stations in Onitsha that day but could not trace his whereabouts.  He was detained overnight without taking his statement. 

 The following morning, 17th October, 2014, he was brought out of the Cell and asked to mention any of his family members that he would want them (SARS) to contact for him.  He mentioned his younger brother, Daniel Nliam (08031343648) who was quickly contacted by them.

  When Daniel got to the office of SARS, he was asked to first go and call the owner of the soap before they would tell him anything concerning his brother.  He complied, went and called Mr. Frank.  Mr. Frank, on hearing the news that
 his goods and the driver have been found, was filled with joy, and so ran along with Daniel to SARS Okpoko.

 However, Frank’s joy was short-lived as he was detained immediately he got there.  Mr. Daniel, on the other hand was told by the officer handling the matter, who identified himself simply as “Hyman”, to go and bring the sum of Fifty thousand Naira (N50,000.00) for the bail of his brother, the driver. Luckily, Frank had informed his friend, Obinna (08035056919) before going to answer SARS.

 So, when Obinna tried to reach him on phone so as to ascertain what the situation was, he found that Frank’s line was switched off and so he decided to go there in person. On getting there, he was not even allowed to come near the office as he was pushed out of the station by the officer, Hyman. Seeing that there was little or nothing he could do, Obinna ran to us for help.  Our Legal Secretary, Comrade J.U. Ijeoma called the commander of Okpoko SARS, Supolo Anthony and informed him of the matter.

 Consequent upon our intervention, both the driver and Mr. Frank were released at about 6.30pm that day. The Officers however, forcibly carried eight cartons of soap from the vehicle. Also, they refused to return the sum of Eight thousand Naira (N8,000.00) that Mr. Frank deposited with them before he was dumped in the cell.

 When we were informed of the development later on that evening, our Legal Secretary sent a text message to the Commander, demanding that both the money and the cartons of the soap be returned to the owner.  The following morning, the Commander called our Comrade and after initial weak and flimsy attempt at defending their acts, told him to reach out the owner and ask him to come to their office by 8.30am and collect his money and the cartons of soap. 

 That was how the soap and money were retrieved from them.
 
 •    UCHECHUKWU ENWEREZOR (080632202087)  Uchechukwu Enwerezor, a trader at relief Market Onitsha had gone to collect some debts from some of his customers within the Market.  When he got to one of his customer’s shop, he was told that the said customer was playing draft with some other traders at another line.  He went to that line to meet the said customer.  It was there that the men of SARS besieged them arresting seven persons, he inclusive. 

The officer in their usual brutality tied their hands behind them with elastic tube and carried them to the station.  When they got to the station, they were beaten thoroughly, their phone collected and they were dumped in the cell without being allowed to make any statement.  They were not allowed to contact their lawyers and or family members.  The following day, they were made to pay between Twenty thousand to Fifty Thousand Naira (N20, 000.00 – N50, 000.00) each, depending one’s ability to bargain.  It was only one of the victims,
who could not muster as much as N20,000.00 and so was made to stay extra three days in the cell before they agreed to collect N15,000.00 bail fee from him. The names of the victims whom we were able to reach are: (1) Kalu Obasi (08064445335); (2) Chukwuma Okeke (08063021296); (3) Obinna Njiribeakon (4) Ebere Nwaeze; Ogochukeu Nwafor (08125880613).  Importantly Sir, though the acts represented above are reprehensible and condemnable, it was the subsequent development in the matter that pains more.  That is, after those citizens were made to pay the aforementioned sums of money, Uchechukwu Enwerezor who had the sum of Ninety Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (#92, 500.00) on him being the money which he had just recovered from his debtors deposited same with the Police before his being dumped into the cell.

Upon his release (that is after he had paid N35,000.00  bail fee), he requested for a return of his N92,500 but was asked to come back the following day. That was how the policemen started out with their intention to convert the victim’s money.  After the initial hanky-panky by the police, the victim, Uchechukwu was warned by Inspector Sunny, the second-in-command of the SARS office never to come back to their office for any reason otherwise he would be detained again and this time he would pay through his nose.  Confused, Uchechukwu ran to Okpoko Divisional Police Station and met an officer whom we would not mention his name for certain reasons. The said Officer attempted to help him by calling the said Insp. Sunny on Phone and after many “pleas” on behalf of the victim; he told Uchechukwu that the Insp. Sunny only agreed to refund half of the money to him.  This did not go down well with Uchechukwu and so he left.  It was at this point that Uchechukwu came to us and reported his ordeal. 

Our Legal Secretary and Vice Chairman, Comrades Justus Uche  Ijeoma and Alex Olisa respectively, accompanied him (Uchechukwu) to SARS on the 22/11/14 to ascertain the veracity of the latter’s claim. When our comrades got there, they were greeted with harassments, intimidation and threats.  Insp. Sunny told them that any other day he sees them around their office that they would not go out with their two legs.  Our Comrades then put a call to their  Commander who was not on sit at the time the threats were going on. The Commander asked them to come back the next day (23/11/14).  It was on that 23/11/14 that the money, N92,5000.00 was refunded to the owner. Undoubtedly, this only happened because we intervened. So the question that
 naturally follows is, “what if we were not there to intervene?”
 
•    EMMANUEL OKOYEA –08133970558
The case of Emmanuel Okoyea is illustrative of the fact that the operations of Men of SARS Okpoko underscore their principle of “Service to the highest bidder.”  For a detailed account of Mr. Okoyea’s case, we have attached herewith a copy of a letter addressed to the Commissioned of  Police, Abambra State Command, dated November 03, 2014 for your perusal.
The said letter is marked as ANNEXURE 01. It is instructive to inform you Sir that since the letter was sent out our comrades have been declared / labeled as the number one enemies of SARS, Okpoko for no justifiable reason. 
 
.    IZUCHUKWU EPUNDU -08137000981

Izuchukwu Epundu, an Okada rider was arrested along Owerri  Road carrying a “tokumbo” car engine an individual who had bought same from old Spare parts Market in Obosi.  He was taken to SARS and detained.  He later called the owner of the engine who quickly rushed to SARS to identify himself as the owner of the engine. Upon his arrival, he also was detained. Izuchukwu Epundu happens to be a cousin to Ngozi Epundu  (08037098365) who is a sister-in-law to our Legal Secretary.

 Therefore, Our Comrade in company of his sister-in-law,  Ngozi went to SARS to ascertain what the problem was. On getting to SARS however, immediately the commander sighted our Comrade, he started shouting on him, saying that he
should leave the station. He made all manner of unfounded accusations.  He said that our comrade is a “bad man” who wrote a petition against him to the Commissioner of Police.  He was apparently referring to the petition written by Emmanuel Okoyea’s lawyer, which we referred to above and copy of which has been attached as indicated earlier.

 The effort of our comrade to clarify his position in Emmanuel’s case was rebuffed as the Commander ordered his men to push him out of the station.  This incident took place around 2pm on 13th November, 2014 but it was later in the night, around 8pm that they released Izuchukwu from their cell and asked him to go.
 
•    CHIDI CHUKWUMANKPA (DIVINESUCCESS)-08037269540

On Saturday, 24th January, 2015, Chidi Chukwumankpam, a trader who deals on cell phones had come all the way from Bayalsa to Onitsha to buy goods (Phones).  After making his purchases from the Market, he left for the Peace Mass Transit Park where he was to board a vehicle that would take him back to Bayalsa.  Right in front of the Peace Park at Upper Iweka, he was accosted by men of SARS.  He was asked to produce the receipts/invoices for the cell phones he was carrying in a large carton. When he gave them the purchasing receipts and invoices he was asked to give them identity Card.  He told them that he was not with any Identity Card, and so he was arrested, taken to their
 station and detained in the cell.
 Chidi was lucky to have called his customers in the Market on phone before entering the unmarked vehicle being use by the SARS men because his phone was collected and switched off immediately they got to the station. His customers whom he contacted were Eberenna (08037904554); Solomon
 (08067837826); and Henry (08039522977).

 Knowing the antics of SARS, Eberenna contacted our Legal Secretary for assistance.  Our Comrade made several calls to the Commander of SARS but, he did not pick his calls.  Our comrade reasoned that it was getting late and if nothing was done, the young man would be made to sleep in the cell, and so decided to accompany Eberenna and the other two of his colleagues mentioned above to the station to identify the victim to them and then ask for his release. 

However, their presence at SARS that evening elicited immeasurable hostility from the officers at SARS.  Eberenna was violently pushed by one of the officers who would not have anybody come near their office without permission.  Our Comrade again put further calls to the commander which were not responded.  He then met one of the officers who told him flatly that the young man cannot be released unless their “oga” permits.  When our Comrade pressed further for the release of the innocent victim he was threatened that if doesn’t leave the station, that he would be made to regret ever coming to SARS.   They left the station that night without being able to secure the release of the victim. When the following morning our comrade made further call to the
 commander but did not get an answer, he sent the following text message to his phone line, 07034705111:
           
 “Good morning Sir, I have called severally from last night but you don’t pick the calls.  Well, it’s in respect of one Divine success, a trader who came from Bayelsa State to buy phones in Onitsha.  He was arrested by your men at Upper Iweka carrying the phones he bought, he gave them receipts/invoices for the goods but they surprisingly still detained him on the ground that he hadn’t Identity Card.   Even when I went there in company of three customers from  whom he bought the phones, your men told us that he cannot  be released without permission…  The young man slept in the cell for no named crime.  Your attention is by this drawn to  this travesty for necessary action.   Be informed Sir, that this
SMS is copied to O.C. SARS, CSP Nwafor; DCP SCID and CP Hosea Karna.  Thanks, J. U Ijeoma, Legal Secretary, Civil  Liberation Organization, Anambra State Branch.” The SMS promptly delivered to his phone at exactly 7.37am.  Few minutes later, the victim called to inform our comrade that he has been brought out of the cell and released to go.
 
 
 •    EBUKA UMEH-08067966351
 Ebuka, a trader at Bridge-Head market, Onitsha was going to the market on the 2nd day of February, 2015. On his way, he saw his fellow trader, Ezeagwu Ebuka (08162434634) who was also going to the same market and decided give him a lift on his ladies-motorcycle since they were both going to the same market.  They were accosted at Upper Iweka by operatives of SARS and asked to enter their bus. Ebuka Umeh’s attempt to find out what their offence was attracted a deafening slap from the one of the officers.

They, the victims were violently pushed into the SARS operation vehicle while one of the officers rode on Ebuka’s motorcycle. When they got to the station the victims were thoroughly beaten, their phones seized and switched off, and then they were thrown into the cell without being allowed to make statement or being told the offence they committed.

Later in the afternoon, around 3pm, Ebuka Umeh was brought out of the cell and asked to call anybody to come and take him on bail. He called his brother, Chidozie Chukwuka(08039398673) who incidentally is a member of our organization, the Civil Liberties Organisation. When our comrade got there and sought to know what offence  his brother committed, the officer who refused to disclose his identity told him point blank that what is important is for him to talk about his bail and not, in the words of the said officer, “to speak grammar.” When our Comrade tried to point out the need for a detainee’s offence to be made clear before talking of bail, the said officer became furious and asked him to leave the station or he would be detained also. Our comrade left the station and then called our Legal Secretary and narrated what he was going through in the hands of the officer. Our Legal Secretary later on in the evening, at about 6.30pm in company of comrades Chikodi Anamalu(08114751666) and Chidozie chukwuka went to the station and met the Commander, Supol Anthony.

The commander then released the victims. That, after they had spent a whole day in the police cell for no just cause. The few examples highlighted above are by no means exhaustive of the activities of men of SARS Okpoko.  It is painful when we hear of SARS arresting people for offenses such as not wearing crash helmets, quarrelling between women or motorists not having their driver’s license readily available when stopped or traders not having identity cards.  But the truth is that there are many instances where SARS Okpoko stooped to such a ridiculous level in their unbridled quest to make illicit gains. The case of Chidi Chukwumankpam referenced above illustrates just a tip of the iceberg of what traders go through in the hands of Supol Anthony and his men at SARS. 
  Those who have passed nights in their cell informed us that most nights they have their cell filled up with people most of whom, just like the once we mentioned in this letter, have nothing to do with robbery, not to talk of armed
 robbery or any other serious felony.
 
 It is our observation that Supol Anthony has turned Okpoko SARS into his private money- spilling industry and so would stop at nothing in stifling any voice that rises in opposition against his inordinate objectives.  He employs threat, even physical assault and intimidation in his attempt to halt any voice that dares to challenge avaricious tendencies.  Now that these tactics have not worked for him in deterring some of us, he may, if not called to order, begin to make good his threats which will mean killing any one that objects to his unquenchable inordinate drive for pecuniary gains. Though we have resolved not to be deterred by the menacing antics of the likes of Supol Anthony, there is need for concerted urgent steps to be taken towards stemming the conducts under reference and thus, redeem the image of the Nigerian Police which he and his likes are bent on dragging further to the mud.
 
 In the height of all that have been stated, we call on you,Sir, to use your good office and investigate the activities of Supol Anthony and his men at Okpoko SARS and mete out the appropriate sanction on them.

While the investigation goes on, we demand that all theofficers at Okpoko SARS be redeployed out of Onitsha as their continued presence in Onitsha may affect the course of thorough investigation of the activities referred to in this
letter.  Also, because their psyche has been terrible configured towards money-making-policing any of them that remain will certainly affect those that would resume duty there after them. Their replacements must be warned to
refrain from entangling themselves with activities that are outside the aims and objectives for setting up Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

 Upon the conclusion of the investigation, adequate sanctions should be meted out to all found culpable as this will not only redeem the image of the police but will go a long way in restoring the confidence of citizens in the Nigerian Police.
 
 Thanks in anticipation that this letter will receive the very urgent attention it deserves.
 Signed:
 For: Civil Liberties Organisation,
 
 …………………………….
Comrade Ijeoma, Justus Uche
 Legal Secretary, Anambra State Branch

 
 Cc:     The Chairman, Police Service Commission.
   The Hon. Minister of Police Affairs.
   National Human Rights Commission.
  Assistant Inspector General, Zone 9,
Umuahia.

   The Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
   The Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs.
    The Executive Governor of Anambra State.
  The Commissioner of Police, Anambra  State Command.
   The Speaker, Ananmbra State House of Assembly.
    The chief Judge of Anambra State.

   Amnesty International, London.

  Human Rights Watch, USA.