By Emma OBIAMIWE Senior Investigation Correspondent, Asaba/
ASABA- A group under the aegis of People United for Societal Harmony PUSH, a Non-Governmental and Non-Profit making Organization NGO domiciled in Delta State has condemned in strong term, planned protest by some persons masquerading as Human Rights Organization in Delta State alleging Police extortion and rights abuses; saying such act was capable of resonating the ugly legacies of the #EndSARS protest.
Read Also >> Four gunned down in Delta, Ogun as Police engage armed robbers, kidnapers in fierce gun battle
Similarly, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights CDHR in the state has distanced itself from the planned protest saying also that the purported convener, one Prince Kehinde Taiga an expelled member of the group has no locus standi to hold such protest. The CDHR in a release jointly singed by Comrades Israel O. Joe Peter Edariese (Chairman) CDHR Delta State condemning the activities of the said Taiga however, enjoined the Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Muhammed Ari Ali to call some of his officers and men serving in Warri and Sapele to order; saying that their extortionist and unprofessional tendencies were becoming unbearable.
Secretary-General of the association, Dr. Austin Akaraiwe in a release made available to Newsmen weekend, said that intelligence report reaching them has it that the arrow head of the self-acclaimed human rights group recruiting some unsuspecting persons in Asaba, Warri, Sapele and environs for the planned protest was an expelled member of a famous human rights organization in the country touting for relevance in the state.
Dr. Akaraiwe noted that if for nothing, the present Police leadership in the state have shown exceptional zero tolerance for corruption and human rights abuse; stressing that any protest against the Police in the state at this time would not only be counter-productive but spew unwarranted tension that may cog the socio-economic master plan of the state Governor, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa.
Read Also >>DISMISSED! Two Policemen axed for illegal duty, rights violation in Delta
According to him, the present onslaught by the Police against all manners of crimes and criminality including cultism and kidnapping in the state had never been witnessed before, adding that any such planned protest aside discouraging the current Police leadership from maintaining the momentum against enemies of the state, would encourage criminal elements to perpetuate in their uneconomic activities.
Dr. Austin noted that as part of the present police leadership stance against corruption and all forms of unprofessional activities, two Police officers were recently shown the way of the force for assault occasioning harm against a defensceless tricycle operator in Warri.
He said, “We are not unaware of a surreptitious plan by a group of persons masquerading as human rights organization in our dear state recruiting unsuspecting but gullible persons to embark on protest allegedly against Police extortion, human rights abuse and all what not. The arrow head of this group of persons was a member of a renowned rights organization in the country with a branch in Delta State who was expelled for anti-association activities. He wants to be relevant and like a drowning man who he is, he is going around confusing jobless people like him to stage a protest; all in a bid to make a statement.”
Continuing, Dr. Akaraiwe added, “At the risk of adulation, the kind of relative peace presently being enjoyed in the state has never existed. The Governor of the State Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa has not only shown that he is a bridge builder but a leader that has the interest of the good people of Delta State at heart through his numerous people-oriented projects. On their part, the Police in the state have to a large extent lived up to expectation especially, in the area of civility and community policing model. Just three days ago, two Police officers serving with the ‘B’ Division in Warri were dismissed for assaulting and inflicting bodily injuries on a hapless tricycle operator somewhere in Warri.
Does this not tell us that the present Police leadership is averse to corruption and unprofessionalism? So, what is then the basis for planning a protest when you have a Police Commissioner that is available to you on a 24 hour basis? That is why, we as a group in the People United for Societal Harmony PUSH is rising up against such planned protest and calling on whoever is the architect to drop the idea and embrace peace, encourage the state government and the present Police leadership to better the lot of the good people of Delta State and fight crime respectively.”
Read Also >>Emotions as Delta Command’s PCRC presents cash donations to families of slain Police officers
Corroborating the stance of PUSH, CDRH also said, “We wish to distance ourselves from the purported press release circulated by Mr. Kehinde Prince Taiga calling for another #EndSARS protest in Delta State. It is important to state that during the October EndSARS protest, this said individual never sacrificed by coming out in solidarity to support the struggle but only seeking for relevance through the victory we have derived.
“Mr. Kehinde Taiga has long been expelled from the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) due to his illegal activities which almost brought the name of the organization into disrepute and now superintend over a faction claiming to be the acting President of the organization. We wish to state categorically that Kehinde Taiga is no longer a member of CDHR.
“However, we want to call on the Police authorities to tackle the incessant extortion, victimization, brutality and unnecessary raiding by some of her officers including the Sapele DPO CSP Harrison, Abraka DPO CSP Aliyu Shaba and others whose actions are capable to steering anger and protest against the sagacious image of the Delta State Commissioner of Police CP Muhammed Ari Ali.”
Copyright CrimeWorld: All rights reserved. It is an offense to either broadcast, reproduce, rewrite, publish and redistribute this material partly or wholly without the express permission from Frontpage CrimeWorld Publishers Nigeria Limited, Publishers of CrimeWorld Magazines and weekly newspapers.