Date Published: 07/01/09
Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HRJPF]
93, Market Road, First Floor, Back
Aba, Abia State
Nigeria
July 1, 2009 PRESS RELEASE
GOV ORJI RUNS BESERK, ATTACK OKADA OPERATORS…
Between 3.30 pm and 4.00 pm yesterday, a combined team of the Nigerian Police and the notorious Abia State Vigilante Services, aka, Bakassi boys, in a commando style stormed 118, Tenant Road, Aba, shooting sporadically to disperse motor cyclist operators, popularly known as okada.
The disenchanted commercial motor cyclist operators had converged for a meeting with the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HRJPF] to discuss the illegality of the recent ban on okada operation in the state.
But in a manner reminiscent of the evil days of military dictatorship, Governor T.A. Orji directed the Abia State Commissioner of Police to invade the venue of the peaceful meeting, shooting sporadically, manhandling, torturing and arresting some of the participants who could not run away. No fewer than 20 innocent people were arrested and whisked away. Comrade Chidi Nwosu, the HRJPF’s President; and Comrade Cassius Ukwugbe, the Director of Publicity of Centre Against Human Rights Violations and Corrupt Practices narrowly escaped being killed by stray bullets from the police.
It beats our imagination that Governor Orji who was supposedly elected to improve the welfare of the people would turn around to oppress them. This has vindicated the stand of the opposition and the civil society organizations in the state that the present administration in the state led by a man around whose neck over 100 charges of stealing of public funds does not have anything good in stock for them.
While condemning in its entirety the ungodly action of the Abia State Police Command and the notorious Bakassi boys, we call for immediate and unconditional release of the okada operators and civil rights activists unlawfully arrested and detained by them.
Ladidi Musa
Vice President
