…As Rivers CP Stops Referral Of Cases To Eagle Crack Unit
Reports reaching our news desk indicate that four police officers who were involved in the alleged torturing to death of Port Harcourt mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, have been arrested and detained by the Rivers State Police Command.
The policemen, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) are said to be detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the old Port Harcourt Township.
The spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the arrest but revealed that investigation is ongoing and any of the arrested officers not found culpable will be released.
The imagemaker of the Police added that the Commissioner of Police in the state will also brief the press as soon as investigation is concluded.
Although DSP Omoni did not list the names of the Police officers detained in connection with the death of Ikwunado, sources told this medium that the officers who allegedly tortured Ikwunado to death are Inspector Fidelis Ayaogu, Inspector Samuel Eyinnah (IPO), Inspector Uche, Inspector Tope, Sergeant Ake Chibuzor, Sergeant Felix Obi and a female Sergeant simply identified as Rose.
Meanwhile as controversy on the actual cause of death of late Ikwunado in the detention facility of Eagle (Commissioner’s) Crack Police Unit continues to rage, reports say the Commissioner of Police, CP Dandaura Mustapha, has allegedly stopped referral of petition based cases to the Eagle Crack Police Unit.
Some persons who went to Eagle Crack Police Unit last week Friday to submit a petition through the unit to the Commissioner of Police CP Mustapha on issues bordering on malicious damage informed National Network that the officers in the unit declined to receive the petition and reportedly told them petitioned cases are no longer referred to them as directed by the leadership of the Police in the state.
The development we learnt, may not be unconnected to the alleged torturing to death of Ikwunado in detention facility of the Eagle Crack unit.
The spokesperson of Rivers state Police command, DSP Omoni did not confirm or refute the report of stoppage of referral of cases to Eagle Crack Unit by CP Mustapha.
Meanwhile, revelation made by Victor Ogbonna who was arrested alongside three others and late Ikwunado who died in the detention facility of the Police in Rivers State have left many residents in shock.
Ogbonna had narrated how he alongside the late Ikwunado and three others were taken to torture facility in the Eagle crack Police unit and hanged upside down and flogged with machetes, axe, woods to compel them to accept they were cultists and armed robbers when they were not. He alleged Ikwunado died because blood was gushing out of his eyes, nose and ears.
Late Ikwunado, Ogbonna and three of their friends were arrested on December 19, 2019 by the Eagle Crack Unit for running against traffic but were later accused of robbing the vehicles they drove in.
The owners of the vehicles had informed the Police that Ikwunado was their mechanic and they gave him the cars to repair. The Eagle Crack Unit later accused late Ikwunado and his colleagues of cultism after they (Police) released the vehicle to the owners.
The Eagle Crack unit arraigned the other four persons in magistrate court on charges bordering on armed robbery and cultism after Ikwunado’s death.
Following public outcry on the incident the Rivers State Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Omoni said the Unit Commander told him that late Ikwunado died of high sugar level, a statement Anthony Ikwunado late Chima’s brother and wife, Mrs Adaego Ikwunado refuted.
The brother of Ikwunado, in an interview with National Network maintained that late Ikwunado has no history of high sugar.
The four accused persons who were arrested alongside Ikunado were discharged and acquitted by a magistrate court last Wednesday of all the crimes levelled against them by the Police after the advice from Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rivers State Ministry of Justice showed they have no case to answer.
The sterling revelations by many victims of torture, extortion and brutalization by the Eagle Crack Unit supervised directly by the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Mustapha, has heightened calls by many human rights organizations for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Mustapha.
In the meantime, human rights organizations in the state had called for disbandment of the team over alleged atrocities and evil perpetrated against people who they are meant to protect and serve.
