By Jasmine Okogeri and Emmanuel Fateman
A group, Advocates for People’s Rights & Justice (APRJ) has expressed concerns over the incessant arrests, threat of arrest and continuous invitation of the Head of the Traditional Rulers of Uromi, community HRH the Onojie of Uromi and other innocent people in Uromi community by Security Agents.
While we are not adverse, an invitation to gather facts by security agents, we are also not oblivious of the handiwork of some mischief makers within the community and State.
The statement further read; “While we support and call on the government of Edo State and the Inspector General of Police to conduct investigation into the incident, with a view of bringing the perpetrators to book, we are in total disagreement of the following”
- The unnecessary invitation and threat of arrest of the Head of the Traditional Rulers, the Onojie of Uromi, and other innocent persons regarding the incident.
- The indiscriminate arrests and intimidation of the innocent members of the Uromi vigilante group in the community.
- The extortion by the Police against innocent members of Uromi community for fear of arrest in relation to the incident of killings in Uromi.
- The transfer to from Edo to Abuja, persons arrested in suspicion of connection with the killings to allow the suspects’ facilities and adequate material to present their case somas to assist the security agents apprehend the main perpetrators.
The statement signed by Victor Giwa, Nationwide Coordinator stated ” while the investigation should be targeted at the perpetrators, we denounce any kind of subterfuge by persons who would want to use this incidence as a Witch Hunt against their foes”.
“This regrettable killings in Uromi should not be used as a launch pad, into illegal arrests, criminal intimidation, and oppression of the good people of Uromi community who have been a good host to different tribes and ethnic groups from every part of Nigeria, including the Hausa Fulani”.
“We strongly condemn such acts of illegal arrests and intimidation of perceived enemies of certain persons by mischief makers who would want to use the incidence of the killings for political gains”.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) and the Edo State governor to thread with caution and ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of the good people of Uromi, while they undertake the task of apprehending the perpetrators” the statement declared.