Tina Amanda
International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Rivers State, has strongly condemned the cruel and inhumane treatment meted out on her member and a child protection officer from the State Ministry of Social Welfare who accompanied a complainant to Akpajo Police Station in respect to a newborn baby found abandoned in a Church at the area.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, FIDA Chairperson Rivers, Adata Bio-Briggs, said the Complainant found an abandoned baby in her Church and reported to officers at the Akpajo Police Station who later took the Baby to one Goodness and Mercy Orphanage Home in Eliminigwe Estate, Akpajo.
Bio-Briggs said the Complainant insisted the baby be sent to the Port-Harcourt Children’s Home under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation but instead was thrown out of the premises of the orphanage home and the baby taken away from her.
According to FIDA Chairperson, the Complainant immediately put a call across to FIDA, and a call was placed to the DPO Emmanuel Ifeanyi, for the baby to be handed over to the Ministry of social welfare and Rehabilitation.
She said the DPO requested the presence of FIDA and officers from Social Welfare so the baby can be handed over to the appropriate authority.
She explained that a FIDA member was sent to the Akpajo Police Station alongside the child Protection officer and the complainant.
Bio-Briggs noted that on getting to the station, the DPO Emmanuel Ifeanyi, verbally and physically assaulted the member, seized her phone and that of the Social Welfare officer and the complainant and detained them for more than four hours threatening to deal with them.
“FIDA Rivers views the act of the DPO Akpajo Police Station, Emmanuel Ifeanyi as slanderous and a violation of their right to personal dignity. Given the fact that FIDA Rivers in conjunction with other stakeholders conducted training on Administration of Criminal Justice Law for Police officers and other law enforcement agencies.
“We commend the prompt intervention of the Commissioner of Police and urge him to ensure that justice is done in this matter and for the future protection of our members in course of our service to humanity”.
