The petition seeks among others the immediate release of the suspects or their arraignment in a court of law, if they have committed an offence.
The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has written to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking justice for five detained suspects who were allegedly tortured and shot on their legs by the police in Enugu State.
The petition, which was made available to SaharaReporters on Monday, was signed by the CRRAN President, Olu Omotayo Esq, giving the names of the detainees as; Sunday Nwobodo aka Divine spoon, Onyeka Nnaji, Nnamdi Gabriel, Nweze Igweshi and Nwabunkeonye Nnamani, were all members of Neighbourhood Watch of Akpawfu community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The petition seeks among others the immediate release of the suspects or their arraignment in a court of law, if they have committed an offence.
“The family members of the above-named detainees informed us that the detainees were randomly arrested between 3rd August 2024, and 12th August 2024, from the community.
“We were further informed that one Mr. Nnaji was reported to have been killed sometimes in July 2024, by unknown persons in the community. The community thereafter arrested one Mr.Ogodo and two others that they suspected had land dispute with the deceased and handed them over to the Police in the Area, but the police later released the suspects and invited some members of the community Neighbourhood Watch to report to the Police at the Octopus Base.
“The aforementioned Neighbourhood Watch members reported to the Police and they have since been in detention thereat.
“We were further informed that the Police have refused access to the detainees by their families and lawyers. They further stated that when some members of the community were allowed to see the detainees two weeks ago, they were all limping as they have been tortured and shot on their legs by the Police while in detention.
“Our office made efforts to see the detainees and know their wellbeing but Barrister Desmond Kakaan, from our office was refused access to them when he visited the Octopus Police Base, Enugu, on Friday the 13th September 2024.”
The group described as unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and a grave rights violation for Police to incapacitate detainees in their custody by shooting them on their legs in order to make them confess to a crime.
“No matter the gravity of the offence they committed, the proper thing for the Police to do is to charge the detainees before a court of competent jurisdiction.
"We condemn in an unequivocal term this act of torture in custody and we demand that the officers involved be made to face the full wrath of the law as penalized under the ‘Section 8, Anti Torture Act 2017” which provides punishment of 25 years imprisonment for a person who commits torture.
“Section 6, of the Anti Torture Act 2017” provides that a person arrested, detained or under custodial investigation has the right to demand a physical and psychological Examination by an independent and competent doctor of his choice after interrogation. Pursuant to this section we hereby on behalf of the detainees demand that they be allowed access to a competent doctor of their choice to examine them in respect of alleged severe torture of shooting them on their legs during investigation in police custody.
“We further demand the immediate release of these detainees or they should be charged forthwith before a court of competent jurisdiction," the petition partly read.