Brave Dickson
Chinedu Kingsley from Imo State, Nigeria is among the countless many who have actually suffered inhuman treatment from Nigeria’s security operatives especially the police over alleged crime(s).
Kingsley who was remanded in the Imo State prison custody in 2006 was released in the second quarter of 2018, meaning he spent 12 solid years in prison custody without trial on alleged robbery offence he claimed no knowledge of.
Kingsley who spoke with our correspondent as he was invited to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital by the Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration (FREECON) who secured his release free of charge from prison custody said he was shot in the leg by policemen in police station because he refused to accept the robbery charge levelled against him by the police.
His ordeal: “I was arrested by men of the Imo State Police Command over robbery charge I know nothing about in 2006.
“While taking my statement, the policemen forced me to plead guilty to the charge which I refused. One of them immediately shot my right leg ankle which has damaged my ankle bones.
“They later went with me to my house and ransacked everything and couldn’t find anything incriminating. What they could do was to confiscate my electronics and other valuables.
“I was arraigned in court by the police where I pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Imo State prison custody.
“I was in prison custody when both of my parents died. I suffered hunger and infections around my private parts during my stay in detention.
“It took the intention of FREECON legal team to get me freed last year. I would have died in prison custody if they had not come to my rescue.”
As part of its mandates to make the society safer and prosperous, the Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration popularly called FREECON has kick-started its Rehabilitation 500 Project to release prison inmates who have spent seven years and above in Nigerian prison without trial.
In order for the released prison inmates not to be a menace to society, FREECON has taken a step further to empower them with various vocational skills of their choice.
Speaking with the Director of FREECON, Barr Callys Evans said the project also includes, “a mentorship program as the third phase of its Rehabilitation 500 Project to groom the released inmates until they are well established in business and careers.”
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