Group petitions IGP over alleged abuses, attacks on opposition by agents of govt in Ebonyi
A group of civil society organizations in Ebonyi State and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Abakaliki have petitioned Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector general of police, regarding alleged repeated violations of human rights by the state’s government.
The organizations announced their decision in a statement issued in Abakaliki and signed by the state chairs of HURIDE, CUPP, and Ebonyi First Vanguard, Sampson Nweke, Chinedum Elekwachi, and Monday Eze.
The group leaders claimed that Ebonyi state had seen the most egregious instances of repeated violations of human rights, authoritarian dictatorship, and outright disregard for human dignity, which were allegedly committed in most cases by the ruling government.
However, they strongly denounced the alleged brutal killing of HRH Ezeogo Christopher Igboke Ewa by unidentified gunmen, the ongoing persecution of APGA candidate for governor Prof. Benard Odoh by alleged government agents, and the harassment and intimidation of former SSA to Ebonyi governor Mark Onu in the state after he recently defected to the PDP.
The coalition also claimed that Ebonyi citizens’ rights, particularly those of those who belong to opposition political parties, are being flagrantly suppressed. It also denounced the alleged kidnapping of the PDP’s youth leader in Nkomoro Ward, Ezza North LGA, Nwokpoku, on March 7, 2023, by unidentified gunmen.
They also condemned the alleged attack on the gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in Ebonyi State Mr. Chris Adol Awam by suspected thugs on his way to participate in a media program along Amike Aba community, Ebonyi LGA.
The organizations tasked Faleye Olaleye, commissioner of police, with looking into all the attacks and apprehending those responsible.
In a related development, the group expressed concern over the Commissioner of Police, Faleye Olaleye’s apparent refusal to abide by a straightforward court order prohibiting him from detaining or harassing Prof. Benard Odoh, the APGA Governorship candidate.
The group also expressed its profound shock at the enigmatic departure of every police officer associated with APGA guber candidate Odoh. We enquire as to whether this was an intentional attempt to put Odoh in danger of being killed by his assailants, who have already failed to kill him about seven times. They claimed.
Additionally, the coalitions urged the Inspector General of Police to direct the State’s Commissioner of Police to reinstate the police officers assigned to Professor Odoh and make sure that the agents follow the letter and spirit of the law so as not to exacerbate the already tense political climate in the state.
