In October 2020, many Nigerian youths took to the streets nationwide to protest against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement.
Osigbemhe Ernest, a hotel manager in Port Harcourt, Rivers State who was arrested during the #EndSARS protest in 2020, is currently being detained alongside Boko Haram terrorists at an underground prison inside Wawa Cantonment, New Bussa, Kainji, Niger State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
In October 2020, many Nigerian youths took to the streets nationwide to protest against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement.
The protest started peacefully but was later hijacked by hoodlums sponsored by the government, leading to the destruction of public and private properties.
On October 30, 2020, Earnest was arrested by army personnel in Port Harcourt while he was on his way to visit a friend.
SaharaReporters gathered that he and about 43 others including an 11-year-old boy identified as Favour arrested in the state were airlifted to an underground prison inside Wawa Cantonment, New Bussa, Kainji, Niger State.
The prison, over the decade, has been known for detaining hundreds of Boko Haram suspects arrested during the ongoing insurgency in the Northern part of the country.
The army authorities also failed to hand them over to the police for prosecution nor charge them with any court of competent jurisdiction.
A family member of Ernest who spoke to SaharaReporters said the army has refused to release his brother after two years. He, therefore, called on Nigerians to intervene, saying his parents have been depressed and traumatised.
He added that the family had written several letters to the Chief of Army Staff but had yet to receive any response.
“He was staying in Port Harcourt but we noticed his mobile number wasn’t connecting; we later realised he was taken away by soldiers on October 30, 2022,” he said.
“Please we need Nigerians’ help; let the Nigerian Army release him. Our mother is dying because of this.
“My brother never participated in #EndSARS protest at all, he is a marine mechanic. He went out that day because his friend owed him money and the friend called him to come and collect the money. On his way, he was arrested by soldiers who took him since then.
“Since October 30, 2022, the army has kept him in custody; no place to find him. Not only did the army abduct him, they also arrested a child of 11 years called Favour.
“They are 44 in number who were abducted and airlifted from Obigbo to Giwa project detention facility in Kainji, Niger state.
“He has cancer on his feet; the worst thing is that his heart is failing. They are saying they want to cut off his leg; they took him to a military hospital. My mum is seriously sick but we don’t know what to do about it.
“The 6 Division GOC told them to their face that he knows that they are innocent, but they should go and suffer in detention. How do you keep someone in detention for two years without trial, are we in a banana republic?”