Women of Taabaa Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State have protested against the illegal and indiscriminate arrest of indigenes of the community by security agencies in the state.
The women who spoke during a protest at the Taabaa Divisional Police Headquarters lamented that they can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed due to incessant arrest and intimidation by security agencies.
Women Leader of Barasi-Taabaa Community, Chief Joyce Neebari Nule while addressing the Divisional Police Officer of Taabaa Police Division, CSP Chika Elo, said women and mothers of the community are no longer comfortable with the level of intimidation and arrest of innocent persons in the community.
She called on the State Cimmissioner of Police and the Rivers State Government to come to their aid as the constant arrest of youths and chiefs of the community is unsettling the residents.
She lamented that they can’t be held accountable for a crime that was committed in another community involving an attempted murder of King Suanu Baridam, the Gbenemene Bua-Bangha.
”What the Taabaa people are passing through in recent time, we the mothers, we are no longer comfortable with it, that’s why we have cried out this morning. DPO, you will agree with me that a sin that was committed in Sogho has now turned to be a Taabaa Council of Chiefs sin and we cannot keep quiet any longer, ” she said.
The women leader recalled the earlier arrest and subsequent releasing of some chiefs and indigenes on the said crime committed outside their community. She said if police had need of them, they could be invited for questioning, but frowned at the indiscriminate arrest and intimidation of the chiefs and elders.
She called on the Inspector General of Police and all concerned authorities to come to their aid.
”Dear DPO, take our pains to wherever it will get to. To the Commissioner of Police, to the Governor of River State, to Inspector General of Police, to the whole world, DPO, help us. In our sorrow as women we are here asking for your help. DPO, we need your help, ” she appealed.
Speaking in solidarity with the women, Chief Precious Gbogbara, Paramount Ruler Bara Loole Community in Taabaa while addressing the DPO said a situation whereby security agencies enters the community at random to arrest people without anybody’s knowledge was no longer acceptable to the community.
”Our position is on what the Taabaa people are going. This has gotten out of hand and we want it to stop, ” he said.
He recalled earlier agreement with the State Commissioner of Police on due process before any arrest can be made, but regretted that such agreement has been reneged upon.
”When we visited the Commissioner of Police, he told us that there will be no illegal arrest in Taabaa, and that if there should be any arrest that they will follow due process. Now agencies of government will come into Taabaa without following due process, and claiming to be acting on the instructions of whoever sent them to make arrest; and today the Taabaa Council of Chiefs, Elders and Women have come here to say no to it. DPO please take our message to the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police that we are no longer comfortable with this kind of treatment, ” he added.
Responding, the DPO of Taabaa Police Division, CSP Chika Elo urged the community to follow the appropriate channels to seek redress incase of torture and inhuman treatment by any police officer.
The DPO who stated that his division is not in charge of any of the matters being reported and the various arrest, frowned at the alleged cases of torture, adding that the IGP also frowns at them. He charged the community to seek for compensation and enforcement of their rights if any case of torture is established.
