You are here: > News and Reports > National Point: Reporting human rights abuses in the Delta

National Point: Reporting human rights abuses

Another Victim of Police Extortion Cries Out For Justice

A young man, Benjamin Nwosu,  27, who was arrested, detained for about three days and later released on payment of 15000 has cried out for justice saying that he was unjustly detained, robbed and punished. The young man, Benjamin, who hails from Orlu, Imo state but residing at Wike street, at the Mile 4 area of Port Harcourt, was arrested when a team of heavily armed policemen led by a former DPO of Mile 1 Diobu Division, swooped on a bar where people were watching football on Saturday, May 22, 2009,at about 12noon in search of some kidnappers. Over 30 persons were arrested during the raid, tied together and taken to the SOS for detention and torture. At the SOS where they were held, they were denied food and access to their family members and friends. Those who came to seek their freedom were first chased away and threatened with detention. “we were treated as if we committed very serious crimes like armed robbery, murder r kidnapping. Yet, the only crime I committed was that I went to watch a football match between Arsenal and Man-U”, Benjamin lamented adding that for 3 days, he tasted no food. “On Monday, my friends brought food for me, but the Police did not allow them to give me the food,” he told National Point. Also arrested was a young boy identified as Chiboy who, as National Point gathered, may have been on the wanted list of the Policemen in connection with kidnappings in the state. The boy, as one of the victims told National Point, was the person who sold the tickets for the watching of the Arsenal/Man-U match to them on that fateful day, saying that they paid N70 each person to the wanted boy. Although Emeka is a trader at Ikokwu, he said that on that day, he did not go to the market because he was very weak. But having been indoors since morning, he later became bored and decided to stroll out. On his way, he saw the notice advertising the Arsenal/Man-U match. He then thought he has found where his boredom would be cured. But few minutes after the commencement of the match, Police invaded the place and arrested everybody. After arresting them, the Police commandeered a bus to stop and some of them were forced into the bus, while others were pushed into the vans with which they went for the raid.

Narrating his ordeals, he said “as the match just started, I saw Police come in and held one boy and handcuffed him. Everybody still relaxed and thought may be the boy has committed an offence. But before we know, one person came in and said everybody lie down. From there, they stopped bus and put us inside vehicles and took us to the Police headquarters, before taking us to SOS. When they took us to make statement, they asked me whether I know the boy wey dey kidnap, I said no. They asked whether I know the owner of the bar, I said no, that I was passing when I saw a notice, Arsenal and Man-U, and I entered. On Monday, they asked me whether my people dey around, I said nobody knows I am in the cell. I begged them to allow me make calls, but they refused. Since that time I entered the cell, I no dey eat. Na only pure water we dey drink. I dey surprised when on Tuesday, they came and brought me out and told me to carry my bag and go. My brother later told me that on Monday, he offered the Police N10,000, but they pursued him out with the money. He said that what they later paid was N15,000. He borrowed the money from different people. The person who was first arrested and hand cuffed was the person who collected N70 from us. I dey go there watch ball, but I never see the boy, na only that Saturday I saw the boy. Around our place, na only that pace wey them dey show match. In the cell, they did not treat me bad, but they never allowed anybody to see us. One person fainted there on Monday. He was later bailed by his brother. On Tuesday, somebody bought N150 bread which the remaining 18 inmates ate. Others have been released on payment of money. Some paid up to N20,000.”

| Print | Return |

Police Loot Woman's Property, Dump Her In Prison For Failing To Pay Bribe - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

From National Point Newspaper: For daring to ask the Police to return her household property carted away from her room rather than offering bribe to reclaim them, a woman has been dumped in prison custody on trumped up charges of conspiracy and murder of two men.

Enforced Disappearance: Woman Begs Amaechi To Produce Her Uncle's Son - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

From National Point Newspaper: Months after the invasion of Bundu-Ama community by a combined team of military and policemen at the assumed request of the governor, Rotimi Amaechi, residents of the troubled waterfront community are still counting their losses.

Freedom At Last: Back From The House Of Slavery - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

From National Point Newspaper: To Harrison Nkemdilim Robinson, a 27 year old Rumuekpe youth and 7 other Rumuekpe people dumped in Port Harcourt prison since 2007, July 9, 2010 was a day of freedom. That was the day they bade the four thick walls and iron gates of the prison good bye, nearly three months after an incarceration they insist was unjust.

I Was Chained And Beaten By The Police - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

From National Point Newspaper: For daring to organise a peaceful protest in his community to demand justice and peaceful co-existence among the members of the community as well as call on the political class to stop arming youths of the community.

Amaechi Has Pushed Us Into Terrible Hardship - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

From National Point Newspaper: To many of the displaced residents of Njemanze community demolished by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to pave way for Silverbird Cinema Centre, life after the forceful displacement has been a harrowing experience. Reliving their post-eviction experience s during a press conference organised at Abonnema Wharf community.

Ogoni Women Arrested over Shell’s Trial in New York - Wed, 10 Jun 2009

Over 60 Ogoni people on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 were arrested by the JTF in Bori and detained at the Bori Police station. The arrested persons, mostly women, in five buses, were on their way to Bane, the home town of the late Ken Saro Wiwa, the Ogoni martyr, to participate in the jubilation that greeted the trial of Shell in far away New York over its roles in the judicial murder of Saro Wiwa in 1995. The buses conveying them were intercepted by members of the JTF and taken to the police station for detention.

Policeman In Trouble For Raping Female Detainee - Mon, 8 Jun 2009 The noose is gradually tightening around the neck of a Police officer, Mr. Friday Ogboma who raped a female inmate inside a Police cell in Delta state.

Another Victim of Police Extortion Cries Out For Justice - Sat, 6 Jun 2009

A young man, Benjamin Nwosu,  27, who was arrested, detained for about three days and later released on payment of 15000 has cried out for justice saying that he was unjustly detained, robbed and punished.

Police Ransack Nigerian news offices and brutalise staff - Mon, 20 Apr 2009

The offices of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Tide Newspapers, were on Thursday, April 2, 2009, ransacked by rampaging armed policemen from the Mile Police Station. Several persons, including journalists, clients and visitors were said to have been brutalised by the policemen, while properties, including glass windows, doors, tables and chairs were damaged.

Rivers Police Torture Innocent Youth To Death Over Land Dispute - Fri, 20 Mar 2009

An atmosphere of tension and anger has enveloped Egbeda community in Emohua LGA following the death of a 25- year- old secondary school leaver, Friday Isinwor, in the hands of policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.