Community protests, accuses Police, hunters of kidnapping

Allegation completely false, mischievous, misleading — Police

 COMMERCIAL activities and vehicular movement were, yesterday, grounded for hours as protesters from Ekiugbo community barricaded roads within Ughelli metropolis, over alleged misconducta of Police and local security agents in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. 

But the state Police Command has said the protest by Ekiugbo community was a sham, aimed to mislead the public and detract from pursuit of justice by criminal minded individuals.

The protesters armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Police brutality is getting too much,’ ‘Police in Ughelli are fighting the innocents instead of criminals,’ ‘Too much of police illegal activities in the land,’ ‘Ughelli Police should allow our people free movement,’ among others.

They accused a section of the police and hunters attached to the Ughelli Area command of alleged kidnapping. 

Addressing newsmen, the President General of Ekiugbo community, Bernard Baker, said: “We are protesting because of the evil being penetrated by hunters and few policemen.

“Lot of kidnapping have been going on in our communities and despite the efforts of the Ovie, UDU, President General, who brought all the communities Presidents-General to have a force as security is concerned and we have been doing the job.

“But the police are just there to terrorised and extort people as they move about with battle axe, PoS machine to transfer money from the suspect. It is surprising to see police officers with battle axe. 

“We came to know that the hunters are the masterminds of kidnapping in Ughelli. Anytime there is an issue of kidnapping, the hunters will not come because they are hiding the kidnappers.

“Last week at the palace here, a Prince was brutalised by these group of people. We are here to tell our father, the king that all the rumours that the hunters in collaboration with some of the police are the brain behind the kidnapping in the town, and we want them to leave our kingdom for us to have peace.”

Allegation false, mischievous, misleading —Police

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, while reacting, said: “The command is aware of the arranged protest at Ughelli North LGA today (yesterday), stating falsely that Policemen alongside some members of the hunters’ group were involved in kidnapping. 

“The allegation is completely false, mischievous and misleading. For benefit of doubt and for members of the public to be informed of the true situation, the command wishes to state as follows;

“On 13/2/2024about 1715 hours, while the Police surveillance team attached to Ughelli Area Command was on surveillance patrol, they intercepted a white GLK Benz without plate numbers. 

“The police in their curiosity asked the occupants to reveal their identities and establish ownership of the vehicle, the suspects could not give any reasonable and satisfactory explanation and were asked to come along with them for further investigation. 

“The suspects declined and called one Edirin Ogogorode, who came with a car and blocked the Police. However, the police subdued them and took the suspects to the police station. 

“On returning to recover the GLK which at that time was suspected to be a stolen vehicle, one Jeffery Augustine mobilized youths of the community in their numbers and attacked the Policemen during which one of the officers was seriously injured and is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“A total of 10 suspects were arrested and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”