THE Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN) has called for the immediate release of some rights activists allegedly brutalized and detained at Inland Town Police station Onitsha and urged the Commissioner of Police  (CP) Anambra, Mr. Karma Hosea Hassan and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba to commence a thorough investigation into the incident.

 According to a statement signed by HRAN coordinator, Melissa Omene‎, the group is outraged by reports from its members that two human rights activists based in Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Justus Ijeoma and Mr. Obi Efediorah were brutally assaulted and seriously injured by policemen attached to Inland Town Police Station, Onitsha on the alleged orders of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Cosmos Eze, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

 “We are informed that the two activists had gone to the said Police station to secure the release of  five women (Princess Nkiruka, Ebere Okafor, Amara Williams, Nneka and Kelechi) who had been arrested and detained at the station on Friday, February 6, 2015 on allegations of quarreling among themselves.

“The investigating police officer (IPO) whose name was given, simply as Mr Kelechi was said to have extorted the sum of N15,000 from each of the five women before they were ‘granted bail’ that same Friday. Mr Kelechi then asked the women to report back to the station on Monday, February 9, 2015 but rearrested them when they returned.

“The activists, Executives of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Anambra State branch, decided to return to the station to see the DPO, SP Cosmos Eze to complain that his officers had extorted the sum of N15,000 from the women on 6th February, only to re-detain them on Monday, February 9.

“Shockingly, the DPO disregarded the complaints of the activists and then ordered five police officers including the IPO of the five women’s case, Mr Kelechi to beat the two activists, breaking Justus Ijeoma’s head and smashing his IPad and watch”, she alleged. 

 The group said: “HRAN is also informed that the following victims are currently in the cell at Inland Town Police Station, Onitsha for their inability to pay the huge bribe demanded by the police: Adekunle Okwuawo, detained for 23 days; police demanding bribe of N 50,000 for bail. Chinedu Okoye, detained for 21 days for allegedly owing someone a debt of N20,000 (still detained despite having paid the debt). The police are said to have told him that since he could make contacts from the cell to raise money to pay his debt, he must also pay the police the sum of N50,000 before he would be released.