Enugu community petitions Mbah, IGP over police harassment

Obeagu community in Awgu Local Council of Enugu State has sent a petition to Governor Peter Mbah and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, alleging what they described as “persistent harassment, persecution and unlawful arrest” of their indigenes by the police in the area.

The community members on Monday marched out in the streets in protest to further show their disdain over the development. They carried placards with inscriptions such as ” Stop the Police Brutality”, “DPO Awgu stop the harassment”, “IGP call Awgu DPO to order”, among others, chanting solidarity songs and demanding an end to the unjust treatment.

The President General of the community, Callistus Ojogbu, told newsmen that it was sad that those saddled with the duty to protect the community have allegedly taken sides in a land dispute and gone ahead to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens.

He stated that three youths from the area have been arrested and detained over the dispute, adding that it is the duty of the police to protect all sides to the matter.

He called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the police officers in the area and urged the state government to ensure that justice is served in the matter.

Similarly, the Secretary, Igwe in council, Nnanyelugo Dennis, noted that the community was a peace loving one, stressing that the land in question belonged to them.

According to him, elders of the community have tried not to take laws into their hands but deplored the current situation where security officials allegedly decided to take sides in the matter.

Another Community leader, Chinedu Chukwuemeka appealed to relevant authorities to address the issue. He noted that their members now sleep in bushes and no longer go to farm or go about their normal businesses for fear of being whisked away by police.

When contacted, spokesperson for Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe denied knowledge of the petition or protest against the police. “I am not aware of petition containing the allegations please,” he said.