October 13, (THEWILL) – A Human Rights group, TAEUN AMBASSADORS FOR CHANGE, has written a protest letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged illegal arrest and disappearance of a middle-aged man, Francis Ekene Ugbah, following a dispute over land in OGWASHI-UKU kingdom in Delta State.
According to the group, despite the questionable conduct of the Policemen who effected the arrest of the missing Francis Ekene Ugbah alongside innocent community leaders on November 2, 2023, the Police have refused to charge the case to court not release him to his family.
The Human Rights group, in a statement made available to newsmen, stated that Several Petitions have been submitted to the Delta State Police Command, as well as the AIG office, Zone 5, Benin-city, Edo State, seeking its intervention to investigate and unravel the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah but “they claimed instructions from above scuttled the legal recourse.”
The group also claimed that the disappearance of Francis Ekene Ugbah was allegedly masterminded by the killer squad founded and operated by the following individuals -Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, Prince Onyema Okonjo, Ogor Ozili Utomi, Jude Obidi, Daniel Ugbah, Gbenga Nkenchor and Mr Obi.
“The above-mentioned suspected individuals constituted themselves into the law that arbitrarily and forcefully invade and dispossess land owners in OGWASHI-UKU kingdom in Delta State of their landed properties, thereby depriving them of rights of ownership with the ulterior motive to fraudulently sell the lands at exorbitant prices to unsuspecting members of the public.
“And upon protests by the land owners of the illicit and criminal land grabbing spree akin to Gestapo style by the alleged culprits, those that embarked on such legitimate protests were violently attacked and wounded, and that is if they are lucky to escape the murderous fangs of their killer squad.
“Following the atmosphere of terror and mortal fear that pervaded the entire community, concerned and eminent members of OGWASHI-UKU kingdom made representation to the police authority but alas some of them got arrested on trumped up charges orchestrated by the alleged offenders in active connivance with the police.
“It is noteworthy to state that several cases of this nature are currently in different courts where some of the community leaders were arrested and charged with frivolous murder cases, and when the police are compelled to release them by legal means, the above-mentioned individuals especially Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Onyema Okonjo bragged that no justice could be brought to their rescue because the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu has been briefed to do their bidding at the instance of their elder sister, Dr Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to collaboratively work with other security agencies to halt and checkmate the process of diligent investigation and subsequent prosecution of the case.
“It was in the face of this lingering fracas that Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah was abducted on the 2nd of November, 2023, and his possible whereabouts remain largely unknown to date. And all spirited search efforts by the families of Mr. Francis Ekene Ugbah failed to secure his release.
“We are therefore by this write-up, and in collaboration with other justice-inclined people organisations, demand as follows -: that Malam Nuhu Ribadu, with his world-acclaimed status of integrity and transparency, should immediately direct the police to initiate the process of thorough investigation into the disappearance of Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah which would serve as a litmus test to establish his Innocence by refusing to allow people with shady characters to drag his name into disrepute.
“That the Inspector General of police should as a matter of urgency direct a full-fledged investigation to discover the whereabouts of Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah, whether dead or alive. That one DIG Alabi who was alleged for the removal and stopping of the investigation of AIG Zone 5 Benin-city should be removed from the police as a consequence for brazenly perverting the course of justice.
“That Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his brother Prince Onyema Okonjo should be investigated, and if found guilty, be arrested and tried for multiple murder cases and atrocities committed against the OGWASHI-UKU indigenes and non-indigenes alike living in the kingdom whose properties and means of livelihoods have been forcefully taken over and sold by the Okonjos.”
“That the police should support the ongoing moves by the Delta State government to bring succour to OGWASHI-UKU people following the institution of a panel of enquiry and we ask that the final report of the panel be made public for the benefit of OGWASHI-UKU people, and the Nigerians in general.”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
