[News] Police Complaint unit to investigate allegations that a construction worker was ‘wronglyfully’ arrested and paraded as one of the hoodlums in Imo

The Police Complaint Response Unit says it has launched an investigation into the  allegations that a construction worker was wrongfully arrested and paraded by the Imo state police command as one of the hoodlums carrying out attacks in some parts of the state.

Gunmen dressed in Black with a touch of red stormed the streets in Orji, shooting sporadically into the air on Tuesday May 25. The spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana, later released a statement saying five persons have been arrested in connection with the attack.

He shared the photo above accompanied by the statement below..

”On 25th May, 2021 at about 1302hours, some hoodlums in their number launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of Orji Divisional Headquarters which was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the End SARS protest  in 2020. A philanthropist contracted the reconstruction project.

The hoodlums,  who believed that the re-establishement of a functional police station may prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Orji and environ, decided to invade the construction site.

Before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighbouring townships area but abandoned their operational vehicles. The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc personally led an enforcement team to the scene.

The whole area was cordoned and five suspects, namely Chigaemezu Sabastine ‘m’ 26years old, Casmir Ibe ‘m’ 36years old, John Chinonso ‘m’ 24years old, Chukwudi Okoro ‘m’ 28years and Alozie Daberechi ‘m’ 25years old were arrested. No life was lost. Three vehicles were recovered.

Meanwhile, mop up operation is on going to arrest more suspects and recover their firearms.”

Activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, in a post shared on his Twitter handle this morning, called for an investigation, arguing that one of the paraded suspects might be innocent and was wrongly arrested. He wrote;

POLICE PRO IMO STATE SP BALA ELKANA @ElkanaBalaThe head

@PoliceNG_CRU ACP ISHAKU @AcpIshaku Mr Ibe Casmir is a staff of Evomec Construction company in Bonny Island Rivers State Nigeria. He was allegedly arrested unjustly and was paraded by @ElkanaBala as unknown gun men in Orji Owerri Imo State.

Mr. Ibe Casmir is a Native of Umuegbe Alaenyi Ogwa in mbaitolu LGA of Imo State. He is married and blessed with a son, he reside and work in Bonny ISLAND with his family.

He was arrested few days ago in Owerri on arrival for the preparation of his father inlaw burial that will hold on Friday 28th of May 2021. Please hear from Mr Ibe, investigate and set him free”

The police complaint unit has reacted to his tweet saying an investigation has been initiated.