RULAAC said it had received disturbing information about the alleged ongoing indiscriminate mass arrests, harassment and brutalisation of people and residents of Umulogho Obowo community in Imo State.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Imo police commissioner to ensure the restoration of public order and guarantee the safety and liberty of members and residents of Umulogho Community in Obowo Local Government Area, Imo State.
The organisation asked the police commissioner to protect the residents from alleged indiscriminate mass arrests, harassment and intimidation by police and military personnel.
RULAAC said it had received disturbing information about the alleged ongoing indiscriminate mass arrests, harassment and brutalisation of people and residents of Umulogho Obowo community in Imo State. This is on account of a protest by youths of the community over the alleged murder of a youth of the community by a military officer in collusion with the management of a hotel where the victim was said to have been an auxiliary staff member until he was murdered.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, the Executive Director of the organisation in a statement on Sunday said the information at its disposal is that Chukwuebuka Nwaneri, a 24-year-old man from Umulogho Obowo, Imo State was on Thursday, April 4, 2024, accused of stealing a cell phone belonging to a military officer who lodged at a hotel known as 'Our Guesthouse' located at Umulogho Obowo, Imo State where the Nwaneri was working until he was murdered.
RULAAC said, “That upon being summoned and confronted with the allegation of stealing the phone, the man denied knowing anything about the missing phone.
“That the owner of the hotel simply identified as Ibeh claimed he went to a native doctor with the man and the native doctor confirmed that Chukwuebuka stole the phone.
“That Chukwuebuka continued to deny the allegation of stealing the phone and he was consequently beaten and tortured in a bid to force him to confess, and was finally locked up in a small room where the hotel's diesel generator is housed with heavy fumes emanating from the diesel engine.
“That the following day, the hotel management opened the generator room and found the man dead, apparently from a combination of the torture inflicted on him and suffocation.
“That Ibeh, the owner of the guest house contacted the military officer who arrived at the Guest house later and they took the deceased boy's corpse and dumped it in a cassava farm near the guest house.
“That days later- in the morning of Saturday, 6th April 2024, the youths of the community who knew the boy discovered his corpse and identified him.
“That the angry youths of the village upon hearing what transpired took the decomposing dead body in a wheelbarrow to the guesthouse in protest during which they caused some damage to the guest house property; this prompted the hotel management to contact the army personnel again who mobilised police and military intervention.
“That since today Sunday, April 7th police and military operatives have been on the rampage indiscriminately arresting and brutalising youths in the community.
“That the poor parents of the murdered man identified as Mr. Udomba Nwaneri and Mrs. Rose Nwaneri are in fear as some of their family members are also among those either arrested or facing intimidation and threat of arrest.”
RULAAC condemned the resort to self-help by the military officer and the hotel management who took the law into their own hands.
It said, “After accusing the boy without evidence, they resorted to trial by ordeal and tortured him and locked him up in a small generator house with heavy fumes, instead of handing him over to the police for discrete investigation.
“Trial by ordeal and torture are both crimes under Nigerian laws.”
RULAAC, therefore, called on the Imo police commissioner to “halt the ongoing indiscriminate mass arrests in Umulogho Obowo by police and army personnel”.
“All those illegally arrested should be released without delay,” it said.
RULAAC also called for a “prompt, impartial, and exhaustive investigation into the circumstances leading to the murder of Chukwuebuka Nwaneri”.
“If the military officer and the hotel management are found culpable, they should be charged and tried in accordance with the law.
“A message must be sent out loud and clear that every citizen must uphold the rule of law and be subject to same.
“Any deviation from, or violation of the due process and legally established procedures for treating any person accused of crimes has legal consequences,” it added.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y