Imo: Group condemns trial of Mobile Policemen

A Socio/political Group based in Owerri, the Imo state capital the Imo Democratic Congress has condemned in strong terms the recent arrest and trial of some Mobile Policeman attached to the Government House Owerri on trumped up charges of causing panic and stampede in Government House Owerri Penultimate week

A statement signed by its Executive Secretary Mr. Maximus Uba said the trial of the Mobile Policemen at the behest of Ikedi Ohakim the State Governor was in bad faith, a complete diversionary from the real issues and one capable of causing bad blood between Policemen and the Civilian population in Imo. The statement read in past “The attention of Imo Democratic Congress has been drawn to the arrest, detention and on going trail of some mobile Policemen attached to Government House Owerri. Information pieced together showed that the Policemen were only protesting non payment of their duty allowances now running into thousands of Naira and covering a period of Five weeks. It is even sad to note that a Government that prides itself as one committed to enhanced security, the situation in Owerri is but irresponsible and cheap besides we have it on good authority that thousands of naira have been appropriated for the payment but some smart alecs who call the shots in Government House diverted the same into their private pockets. And we ask what do they expect the policemen to do, fold their hands and die of hunger including their families while millions are being packed continually and on daily basis and moved from Government House before their eyes. At best the development as it concerns the non payment of the policemen is wicked and inhuman while their detention and trial is brutal and animalistic to say the least”

The Group then called for immediate release of the Policemen who were drafted from the Squadron in Sokoto while their trial should be discontinued and further threatened that it would be giving the Nigerian Police Force 48 hours to release the Policemen or face court action and equally urged the Policemen involved to seek the services of legal practitioners to enforce their fundamental human rights.

Further the Group called on President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to call Mr Ikedi Ohakim to order now before the fellow turns into a monster” President Umaru Yar’dua owes it to Imo People to call Mr Ikedi Ohakim to order in the interest of Peace and order in Imo State. We say so because since 2007 that the man came into office as Governor, at best he is busy hounding journalists, Civil Servants, Okada men and even tourists passing through the city of Owerri all in the name of Governance. Today the same man is instigating the trail of Policemen who have been providing security for him after he declined the use of Policemen in Imo claiming they work for his opponents. We therefore call on Mr President to investigate the trial of the mobile policemen and call Ohakim to order in the interest of Peace and order. Further, Imo Democratic Congress therefore urges democrats, Civil Rights group and Non Governmental organization to step out and protest the inhuman and wicked treatment of Policemen who are on National duty from Sokoto but now languishing in Imo State at the behest of an Emperor who want to cow them and embezzle their allowances.

It will be recalled that a detachment of Policemen drafted to Government House Owerri have been protesting the non Payment of their allowances and rather then pay them, the State Government in conjunction with the state police command now accuse them of mutiny which under Nigerian law is a serious offence. Already and according to the Police spokesman in Owerri, Linus Nwiwu, the Policemen involved had been arrested and facing orderly room trial in Owerri Imo State.