Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has received information today (15/04/14) about the 'Proxy Arrest' - amounting to hostage taking- of one Mr. Owoh Nicholas by operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Enugu.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has received information today (15/04/14) about the 'Proxy Arrest' - amounting to hostage taking- of one Mr. Owoh Nicholas by operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Enugu.
We are informed that Mr. Owoh was 'arrested' this afternoon, at Red Cross Road, Enugu in the place of his wife, Mrs Owoh Uju whom the police sought to arrest in the first place.
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The policemen came in company of one Mrs. Lorreta Eze (who is an elder sister to Mrs. Owoh) and one Mr. Flavour Eze.
The police did not inform Mr. Owo Nicholas of his offence or the reason for his arrest.
However, Mrs. Owoh Uju informed us that her husband's arrest may not be unconnected with a minor disagreement she had with her elder sister, Mrs. Eze who may have masterminded the police hunt for her culminating in the arrest of her husband in her stead.
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She informed us that after the burial of their mother some weeks ago, her elder sister- Mrs. Eze, called her demanding that she should handover to her their late mother's jewelry box which Mrs. Owoh said their late mother gave to her for safe keeping while she was still alive.
Mrs. Owoh said she told her elder sister- Mrs. Eze that she could not hand over their mother's jewelry box to her except with the agreement and consent of the whole family.
Consequently, Mrs. Eze threatened that she will 'deal with' her.
When the police arrived at Mrs. Eze's house and did not find her, they went to her husband's office and arrested him in her stead.
It is believed that the arrest of Mr. Owoh Nicholas by the police who came in the company of his wife's elder sister, Mrs. Eze is in connection with Mrs. Eze's earlier threat to deal with his wife. However, in the absence of his wife, the police arrested him.
In the first place, the practice of arresting any person in place of another amounts to hostage taking. It is both illegal and criminal.
Secondly, the matter under reference appears to be a purely family dispute which is civil in nature and does not warrant police interference or arrest.
NOPRIN requests you to order the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Owoh Nicholas.
The IGP is called upon to make it clear to police officers that they must stop dabbling into civil disputes or making themselves available for hire as agents of oppression in the hands of people who seek to settle personal scores.
Okechukwu Nwanguma
National Coordinator
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