…Demand Prosecution of Officers
Three victims of the alleged machete torture by Eagle Crack (Commissioner Squad) police unit located in Mile I Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State have petitioned the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Dandaura Mustapha over what they described as wrong arrest, grievous harm, attempted murder.
Solomon Cletus, Opuwari Bibobra and Mike Ikeji in a petition written on their behalf by Asiebu Victor Okilom Esq principal partner of O.V Asiebu and Associates of Divine Chambers which was dated 25th October, 2019 and made available to National Network, urged the commissioner of police to use his good office to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the alleged torture and detention of the victims by men of Eagle Crack unit and if they are found culpable should be prosecuted before a competent court of jurisdiction as the law is no respecter of persons.
The petitioner went further to state that if the Commissioner of Police fail, refuse or neglect to comply with their demand within seven clear days upon receipt of the letter, they shall not hesitate to institute a multi-million naira suit for breach of Fundamental Human Right against the police.
The petitioners declared their alleged torture by the Police Officers and detention for four days without water and food was unlawful and unconstitutional.
Narrating their ordeal in the petition, the victims explained that they were in front of their house on 15th October, 2019 when the Officers of Eagle Crack alighted from their vehicle and asked them to lie down and they complied.
The victims revealed that they tried to enquire from the policemen what their offence was but one of the officers allegedly used machete to cut and flog them for questioning them (officer).
The victims stated that the officers continued to torture them even at the station until they passed out.
Continuing the victims said “we were without water and food for four days, but were released when office of the Inspector General of Police intervened on the matter”.
The victims expressed shock that the officers were torturing them to accept that they were kidnappers while they were not.
The petition was copied to Inspector General of Police, Rivers State Coordinators of National Human Rights Commission and Public Complaints Commission.
