By Charles Igbo
After a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and the Security Adviser to the Governor, the NBA, Owerri, gave a worrisome verdict over the frightening insecurity in the State. “There is more than meets the eye”, it said.
But there is some cheery news therefrom.
For the Innocent who have been crying over the alleged arrest of innocents in Imo State by Security Personnel, help has finally come.
Especially, in recent weeks, the outcry has been very strong, and so are the allegations that young Innocent Imolites are being branded as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and/or its Security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, and arrested for being responsible for the unprecedented violence and killings – civilians and security personnels – in the State. It takes only a look at your mode of dressing and/or hairstyle and type of car to become a suspect. Wearing of the colour, black, it is alleged, is a “no-no.” It spells danger.
Since the arrests began, and peaked with the murder of Barr. Ahmed Gulak on Sunday, May 30, 2021, more arrests have been made, and the outcry over random arrests has reached to high heavens.
For instance, at least two people out of the five people, recently paraded for being among those responsible for recent killings, are said to be allegedly, innocent. One of them went to buy a casket for the funeral of a relation when he was arrested. Another is, allegedly, an oil company staff.
A number of people, worried over the situation, had written petitions to both the Imo State Police Command and the Force Headquarters asking for intervention and freedom for the innocents.
That prayer has now been answered. Between the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, the State Government and the Police Command, help has come to all those who have genuine complaints on the arrest of any innocent person.
A help Desk has been set-up at the Bar Centre for such complaints by the NBA. It is a consequence of a meeting held on Thursday, June 3, between the NBA, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, and the Commissioner of Police.
Announcing the establishment of the Help Centre, Uzo Enwerem, the Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Owerri, in a Press Statement, also, released phone numbers for complainants to call.
Following, the full text of the Press statement by the NBA.
“Sequel to the meeting with the Commissioner of Police and the Security Adviser to the Governor, its heart warming to report that a help desk has now been set up at the Bar Centre to collate the names of innocent Imolites unjustly arrested and detained by the Nigeria Police for the purpose of securing their release.
“The Bar, through its committee on Human Rights, will anchor and coordinate the help desk at the Bar center to entertain complaints on unlawful arrest and detention of Imolites.
“Complaints received will be taken up with the appropriate quarters in order to secure the release of these detainees; considering that the Courts are not sitting owing to the JUSUN strike
“This approach is dictated by the precarious security situation in Imo State at the moment which has the semblance of war situation. The outcome of our interactions reveal that there is more to the situation than meets the eye.
“The Human Rights help desk of the Bar will open from 4th day of June,2021 at the Bar centre from 10am or so soon thereafter .
“The help desk phone lines to call are;
08035251755
08035512622
08079285239
“Be calm but vigilant.”
