Protest rocks oil-producing town of Egbema over alleged police brutality

Women in the oil-rich Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday stormed the streets to protest alleged police brutality of the people.

The women, numbering over 500 were seen with placards, appealing to the Federal Government and Inspector General of Police to come to their rescue.

They alleged that there had been consistent police brutality in their communities and that their sons have all fled the town following alleged killing of victims of the brutality.

The spokesperson of the protesters and Women Leader in the area, Mrs Anwulika Omogo, told newsmen that the police team that had been brutalising the communities was led by one Inspector Okeabatta Chika (Alias Kill and Bury), a member of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The women alleged that ‘Kill and Bury’ had recruited unknown state actors as militia groups around Egbema axis and attacked, kill and arrest innocent and law-abiding residents of the area that he labels with criminal charges.

“Most recent is the arrest of the PG of the community, Pastor Noble Chinedu Omogo, who was detained in his inspector’s illegal cell at former NDDC hospital in Mmahu for three days without investigation on any crime.

“The inspector boasted that he is not answerable to the Area Commander, DPO or any other police authority, as he is now the police traditional ruler of Egbema.

“Egbema is a peaceful oil-producing community and we want the government to intervene in this issue before it would degenerate to put children deciding to retaliate.”

Also speaking, Mrs Love Nzeoma, said the community do not want what happened in Delta State to happen to them, “We do not want our children to go for self-defense, because they have been pushed to the wall.

“Any action they take may affect so many other lives and government installations. We respect the law but we can no longer afford to keep quiet while our children are being killed daily on frivolous charges,” she said.