The X users described the action of the police as irresponsible and beyond their jurisdiction, saying that defamation between two citizens should be treated as a civil matter, not criminal to warrant the involvement of any security agency.
Some Nigerian netizens on X have berated the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Abia State Command for arresting and detaining a social media influencer identified as Pastor Okezie J. Atani for alleged defamation.
It is very dangerous to go to battle for people that will never watch your back when the battle turns messy.
People don't change, all those young gatekeepers especially from the South West that are trying to sound sophisticated with the persecution of Pastor Okezie are extremely…
— Aare Kurunmi Kakanfo (@AKakanfo) April 12, 2024
This is my opinion.
Pastor Okezie erred and should have taken down the tweet.
But if you're going to drag someone into the mud for defamation, cyber stalking and all, it shouldn't be you with a certified history of doing same, even worse. He who lives in a glass house must…
— D A N E E 🦅 (@Danee_nk) April 12, 2024
The X users described the action of the police as irresponsible and beyond their jurisdiction, saying that defamation between two citizens should be treated as a civil matter, not criminal to warrant the involvement of any security agency.
SaharaReporters gathered that Okezie was accused of defaming a lady popularly known as Serah Ibrahim, a loyalist of Peter Obi and Labour Party. She allegedly used the influence of the Abia Government to mobilise police personnel to arrest Okezie.
Reacting, a popular human rights advocate, Omoyele Sowore described the action of the police as despicable, noting that Okezie had not been reached by his family and lawyers after his arrest.
Sowore wrote: “Again, a despicable act of @policeng abuse has been reported against one Pastor Okezie J Atani @ONsogbu; Okezie was reported whisked away by @PoliceNG officers over what was purely a civil matter; after his illegal arrest he's being kept incommunicado and disallowed from contacting his lawyers and relatives.”
He continued: “@PoliceNg continues to ridicule itself as it lends itself as a mercenary for abuse of human rights across the country, meddling in a matter that carries little or no security consequences. The iG of Police is aware of these shenanigans, and the team under his office is mainly responsible for them. The @PoliceNg authorities must release @ONsogbu unconditionally and immediately. #RevolutionNow.”
Similarly, a popular X user, Arc Uche Rochas described the arrest of Okezie as unlawful and urged the Nigeria Police Force to punish all the officers who carried out the arrest.
He wrote: “I’m not bothered about who wrote the petition against Pastor Okezie, but if @PoliceNG didn’t use the rogue police officer that did the illegal job to set a good example, then we can conclude that Abia State is greater than FGN and IGP of police is taking orders from Abia state instead of Abuja. Regarding that girl, she don prize market.”
I’m not bothered about who wrote the petition against Pastor Okezie, but if @PoliceNG didn’t use the rogue police officer that did the illegal job to set a good example, then we can conclude that Abia State is greater than FGN and IGP of police is taking orders from Abia state…
— Arc Uche Rochas (@U_Rochas) April 12, 2024
“And she still used the same police to kidnap Pater Okezie because Abia state is governed by Labour Party,” Ainà Dipo wrote.
And she still used the same police to kidnap Pater Okezie because Abia state is governed by Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/6A0sF4cbmH
— Ainà Dipo 🇳🇬 (@dipoaina1) April 12, 2024
Another user, Temitope Ayanbisi wrote: “What I just confirmed on this Pastor Okezie issue is that, Nigerian Police can be hired to “discipline” anyone that offends you.”
What I just confirmed on this Pastor Okezie issue is that, Nigerian Police can be hired to “discipline” anyone that offends you.
Like some Egbon Adugbo style. 🙂
— Temitope Ayanbisi (@AyanbisiAT) April 12, 2024