Kelechi Kas
Civil Rights Council, a human right group has condemned the assault, torture and brutal treatment of Divine Samuel and Chiweikpe Dimkpa by Rumuji OSPAC.
The group also sought immediate intervention of the Chairman of Emohua LGA, Tom Aliezi in forestalling the continuance of such acts.
In a letter to the LGA chairman, the group through Mercy Christopher, Esq. Legal Adviser and Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna Esq. its national coordinator said: “our interest is in the case of Divine Samuel and Chiweikpe Dimkpa whose dehumanising treatment is stated below.
“On Sunday 26th January 2020 Mr Chiweikpe Dimkpa and Divine Samuel boarded a bike from Ibaa town in Emohua to get a vehicle heading to Port Harcourt. While at Rumuji waiting for a vehicle, they saw “agberos” (street thugs) extorting money from commercial bus drivers.
“The duo cautioned the “agberos” (street thugs) suspected to come from Rumuji to stop the extortion but they refused. A few minutes later two Rumuji OSPAC personnel, on the invitation of the “agberos” came and arrested Messrs Divine Samuel and Chiweikpe Dimkpa.
“The Rumuji OSPAC personnel ordered the two young men to follow them to their station without asking questions. On getting to the station the young men were tied in the most dehumanizing manner, torture and brutalised till Monday morning 27th, January 2020.
Also Read: 2020: NiMet warns disaster managers to prepare for excess rainfall events
“They were later released when community people who work with Soldiers in Ibaa intervened and told Rumuji OSPAC that the boys have no record of criminality.
“They were released by the OSPAC members who did not show any remorse for the serious bleeding injuries they sustained from the assault and torture meted out to them.
“Although the matter has been reported at Rumuji Police station, we deem it fit and expedient to bring to your notice the flagrant disregard to dignity of human right by the OSPAC members under your jurisdiction.
“We ask that you use your good office to instruct the Rumuji OSPAC to exercise a certain degree of respect in the treatment of suspects and to also ensure that they don’t utilise torture or any form of degrading treatment while exercising their duties.
“We equally urge you to use your good office to caution Rumuji OSPAC to refrain from human rights abuses so as not to put the council in a bad light and also take up disciplinary action against them should they continue to abandon the clear provisions of human rights”.
