By James Orji
A human rights body Behind Bars Family, BBF has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to intervene in the case of one Glory Okorie who has been kept in the Inspector General of Police Response Team, IRT Abuja Cell since June this year.
She was initially kept in the IRT detention cell in Owerri, Imo state before she was moved to Abuja, allegedly by the Team.
Okorie, according to the rights group was preparing to write her JAMB exam when she suddenly disappeared. Her family had looked for the 21 years old in hospitals and mortuaries but couldn’t find her.
In June, 2021, a young man who was freed from IRT office Tiger Base Owerri told the Okolie family that he saw their daughter in the custody of IRT officers cooking and washing clothes for them.
In a statement signed by Harrison Gwamnishu, the Director General of Behind Bars Family said the police has been playing hide and seek with the life of the detainee. The IRT has also been accused of extorting an undisclosed amount of money from the family of Okorie.
According to BBF “the family immediately went to IRT office and requested to see Glory and bail her out and till date it’s been one story or the other, the rights group said.
“The IRT officers allegedly continued to extort the family and denied them access to see Glory.
“Our team launched investigation and discovered Glory has been transferred to Abuja and tagged IPOB/ESN member.
“Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation wishes to draw the attention of IGP Complaint Response Unit Abuja and the new IRT head DCP Tunji Disu to rescue Glory who has now become a maid in Nigeria police custody.
“Attached are evidences of all the money extorted and paid into an account provided by the IRT officers by the family of Glory,’ the group said.
