Tina Amanda
The medical Doctor in charge of the Health Center in Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers State, who was allegedly beaten, arrested and tortured by the Nigerian Army while administering treatment to people with gunshot wounds during the February 23 2019, presidential election, has relayed his ordeal before the panel of inquiry.
Dr Aluye Briggs, while testifying before the COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON VIOLENCE, KILLINGS AND OTHER RELATED ACTS, MATTERS WHICH OCCURRED DURING FEBRUARY 23RD AND MARCH 9 ELECTIONS IN RIVERS STATE, said he was unjustly detained in a small dark guard room for 3days at the Army 6 division headquarters Bori camp Portharcourt, along with two other health workers who were on duty with him on the election day.
According to him, they were subjected to dehumanizing treatment such as sitting on a bare cold floor, no water to bath or drink, adding that he was interrogated by Brigadier General Najapha and colonel Abubakar, who in turns asked him to name who sent him to treat the wounded patients.
He noted that at the time of his arrest, he was attending to over 20 victims with gunshot wounds and bleeding profusely who were rushed to the health centre for urgent medical attention.
He said further that the number of deaths cannot be ascertained yet, as more corpses are still being recovered from the mangroves.
Dr Briggs said that it was the intervention of the Nigerian Medical Association NMA Rivers state Branch, National Association of Government General and Dental Association and his fellow doctors that facilitated him to be released within that 3 days.
Also testifying, member of Abonema Council of Chiefs, Chief Biokpo Bestman, said the military stormed his property, Biobest hotel in Abonema on 7th March around 11.15am and arrested him, his manager and his friend Danwari Don Pedro, and detained them at the Army’s 130 battalion Harry’s Town.
Chief Biokpo explained that his release the next day being 8th of March 2019, was based on calls made by a fellow Chief of the council to the All Progressive Congress APC governorship candidate Tonye Cole, demanding to know why an Abonema Chief was arrested, that Tonye Cole gave orders to the Nigerian Army to release him, stressing that his hotel manager and his friend were released some days later.
