Mr. Samuel Nnanta Jonah, the Chief Security Officer of Rumuekini community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has petitioned the Rivers State Police Command over what he described as “incessant raid, intimidation, harassment and destruction of his properties by the Joint Task Force”.
The petition was sequel to two raids by yet-to-be identified policemen, one of which resulted in the embattled community leader spending several weeks in police detention in Lagos and Abuja.
Jonah told Niger Delta Report that he had lost property worth N200 million since a siege to his house, business and property was unleashed by armed policemen months ago.
He said after raiding his home in June, policemen under the aegis Joint Task Force (JTF), also invaded his hotel and family house, destroyed and burnt properties, killed some domestic animals, including his dog, but could not arrest him the last time.
He told our reporter penultimate week: “On June 21, the said policemen destroyed my properties. On October 16, over 100 policemen in 20 vehicles went to my house and hotel and destroy my properties, burnt and killed some of my domestic animals.
“I was detained for over two months and I was released on August 17, this year. I have called SOS, Anti -Kidnap Patrol and Anti-Cultism Patrol all of them denied knowing which police patrol team raided my house and hotel. My lawyer will ensure that justice is done on this matter.”
Mr Higher King, a human rights activist, who is representing Samuel, said the recent raid on his client’s home was the second in months. He expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the Rivers State Police Command is yet to claim responsibility for the harassment, destruction of properties and intimidation of his client.
King wondered why police would raid his client’s house again, even when he had been arrested, taken to Abuja and released without been accused of any issue relating to crime or cultism.
He appealed to public-spirited Nigerians and the human rights community to speak out against the perceived injustice being meted out on his client.
Already, he said he had sent a petition to the Inspector-General of Police and copied the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Hon. Kingsley Chinda to look into what he described as police rascality.
He noted that his client has been wrongfully arrested, detained, harassed and subjected to indescribable psychological trauma. “We are in the habit of making sure that injustice to one is injustice to all, no matter who the person is; whether rich or poor. My client, who is Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Rumuekini community, was arrested in June, the anti-robbery and kidnapping squad came to his hotel and vandalised properties; the building was de-roofed, two persons were killed.
“I told him to go to the police and report the matter. He was arrested when he got there and (for) over a month he was in detention. They said an order came from above from Adeniji Police Station in Lagos. So, I went to Lagos and met the Deputy Commissioner of Police who told me an order has come from Abuja that my client should be transferred to Abuja and he was transferred to Abuja.
“When he got there, he was still detained for weeks before he was released.
“On a particular day, we saw policemen numbering over 100 in 20 vehicles, they went into their house the same place they invaded before, killed dogs, brought out their mattresses, machines, burnt them and destroyed the window glasses. I don’t know why such a thing should happen.
“We are calling on the authorities that his rights have been violated for two months. We are already making a case about that before this recent development. The properties destroyed worth over N200 million; the Rivers State police are saying they don’t know the policemen that came to destroy those properties.
“It was an operation that lasted for over two hours; with the invaders shooting indiscriminately. The police are saying they didn’t hear it! These policemen came in uniform. I saw them and other people saw them too and the police are saying they don’t know them.
“I have personally contacted the anti- cultism patrol that arrested him initially and they told me that they are not aware. He has also contacted some other stations such as Choba Police Station that covers his area and they said they are not aware. Where did these policemen come from; because up till now, we have not heard anything?
“We are calling on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to immediately produce those policemen. We don’t know why they went there. The man has been released and cleared of all charges.
“We are suspecting something. We are not ruling out political colouration because he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Don’t forget, as Chief Security Officer of his community, on October 15, he handed over to the police some suspected cult boys. The records are there. That was a day before his house was invaded. Does it mean a man who has been found worthy of being the chief security officer of his community should not do his job?”
Efforts to get the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to comment on the matter were fruitless. Telephone calls to his mobile phone were unanswered and he was yet to respond to a text message inquiry detailing the reason for the call.