HURIDE Condemns human rights violation, police killings in Ebonyi

Human rights group, Human Rights Defenders,(HURIDE) have condemned violation of rights of people by men of Nigeria Police Force in Ebonyi state.

The state chairman,Sampson Oko Nweke in a statement issued to newsmen condemned the incessant killings of innocent citizens by the security agency in Abakaliki. He described as alarming the police brutality in the metropolis and called on the state governor, Francis Nwifuru to quickly called the security men to order.

The statement read: "The current wave of police brutality in Abakaliki metropolis has become so worrisomely alarming. " Almost on a daily basis, the Human Rights Defenders - Huride Right Defenders (HURIDE) office receives different reports on cases of various human rights violations on the side of police operatives against innocent and unsuspecting citizens. "These reports range from harassments, torture, forceful transfer of money, arbitrary detention and more. "In Abakaliki of today, people no longer sleep with two eyes closed for fear of the police. Freedom of movement and of peaceful gathering have somewhat become a crime overnight in the once fun-filled Abakaliki. "Just few days ago, a young man simply identified as Evans, lost his life while being chased by the police in Abakaliki. "The 23yr old boy was a 300L student of Ebonyi State University (EBSU). It was reported that what led to his painful death was because the police officers saw him driving a clean Lexus 330 around Hausa quarters and started chasing him. "The late Evans, on sighting the police, sensed danger and made to run away. While they gave him a hot chase, Evans lost control of the steering and his vehicle made summersaulted and he died. "Also, some days ago, a man from Ohaukwu LGA reported a similar unfortunate incidence.

Continuing " He narrated that a team of policemen, in his words, "kidnapped" his pastor's son with eight other young men. Some of them are students of EBSU while some are business men. "He said that the police drove them to their office and forced them to transfer all the money in their accounts, ranging from ₦30,000 from the poor student and 10million from others. " The victims were dropped off the next day after it was confirmed that the monies had been cashed. "Terrible things are happening in Ebonyi State. Normal social gathering are now being avoided in Abakaliki for fear of unwarranted police invasion. Young men with good looks, good phones and good cars are the basic prey of the police operatives. It added, "Some of these victims have lost their lives, while many have been forcefully dispossessed of their life savings while many others are languishing in different police cells and even prisons for no known crime. "These emerging reports against the police in Abakaliki seems to have become rife since CP Augustina Ogbodo assumed office as the police commissioner in Ebonyi State. The police operatives on the streets of Abakaliki have become so emboldened in their acts against the people. "Most of these police crimes are brazenly perpetrated in the open and they will always tell their victim there's nothing they can do. "This is the lowest ebb of the Nigerian Nigeria Police Force in Abakaliki and we are asking the police hierarchy in the State to rise to these challenges before the citizens revolt. "In this light therefore, the Human Rights Defenders- HURIDE in Ebonyi State is demanding a total and immediate stop to the resurrecting cases of unwholesome police activities in Abakaliki. "We are asking the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ogbodo to discreetly look into the activities of his men on the streets of Abakaliki. "The pains and sufferings of Abakaliki residents in the hands of the police is nearing an elastic limit and it is always better to make hay while sun shines. "In the same vain , HURIDE is appealing to the Executive governor of Ebonyi state, Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru to put on check, the operational excesses of the police in Abakaliki. "As a young State with a very young governor of a current young administration, Ebonyi youths deserves a protection from the governor in whom they believe so much and have openly professed same due to the unprecedented leadership style of the current regime in the State. "The governor should call the police to order. He should prevail on the police hierarchy to put a stop to this madness against Ebonyi people and demand a close monitoring and evaluation on the activities of the police men in Abakaliki and the state in its entirety. "If these ugly incidences continue in Ebonyi State unchecked, HURIDE will be forced to write the Office of the Inspector General of Police Abuja , the National Security Adviser, the National Human Rights Commission and relevant international organizations. We shall officially draw their attentions to the evils and maltreatment being done by police against the people in Abakaliki. We shall do this with abundant evidences and by so doing, we shall demand for an immediate removal/redeployment of the State commissioner of police. Enough is enough." he said