Florence Uwaeme
A female police officer attached to the notorious Eagle Crack Unit of the Rivers State Police Command simply identified as Sergeant Rose has been detained for allegedly grabbing the manhood of late Chima Ikwunado, a mechanic who was tortured to death by the police unit in December.
A member of the Ikoku Four who were arrested together with the late mechanic, Victor Ogbonna accused the female officer of grabbing late mechanic’s manhood while other officers were torturing him.
The command had on Tuesday announced the arrest of four policemen over the death of the mechanic.
Their arrest comes after weeks of pressure and protests trailed the gruesome murder of Mr Chima and subsequent throwing of the Ikoku Four in prison on trumped-up charges.
The command had denied that the officers tortured the mechanic death, saying he died from high blood sugar.
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The claims by the police sparked a series of protests in Port Harcourt with the family saying the late mechanic had no history of diabetes and was never on drugs.
Chima’s customers had stated that their cars were not stolen as police alleged, sparking furious reactions on social media with the hashtag JusticeforChima.
However, pressure from civil society organizations and other concerned Nigerians forced the Department of Public Prosecution of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice to issue legal advice exonerating the four of the mechanic’s friends who were thrown into prison.
A magistrate ruled last week that the four men dubbed the “Ikoku Four” were arrested on mere suspicion as they do not have any case to answer.
There have been calls for the prosecution of the officers involved in the murder.
A source said that three of the operatives were detained upon their arrival from Abuja while the fourth operative was arrested from his hospital bed.
Mr Nnamdi Omoni, State Police Public Relations Officer said the four officers were invited and questioned, adding that they have been detained pending when an investigation is conducted on the matter.
Sources said on Wednesday that the Female Police officer attached to Eagle Crack Unit who was accused of clutching late Chima Ikwunado’s Manhood has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department of Rivers State Police command making the number of police officers arrested over the murder 5.
