Group condemns planned protest against Police over alleged rights
abuses, extortion in Delta state
By Trek Africa Newspaper
A group under the aegis of People United for Societal Harmony, PUSH a Non-Governmental and Non-Profit making Organization NGO domiciled in Delta State has condemned in strong term, planned protest by some persons masquerading as Human Rights Organization in Delta State alleging Police extortion and rights abuses; saying such act was capable of resonating the ugly legacies of the #EndSARS protest.
Secretary-General of the association, Dr. Austin Akaraiwe in a release made available to Newsmen weekend, said that intelligence report reaching them has it that the arrow head of the self-acclaimed human rights group recruiting some unsuspecting persons in Asaba, Warri,
Sapele and environs for the planned protest was an expelled member of
a famous human rights organization in the country touting for relevance in the state.
Dr. Akaraiwe noted that if for nothing, the present Police leadership in the state have shown exceptional zero tolerance for corruption and human rights abuse; stressing that any protest against the Police in the statement at this time would not only be counter-productive but spew unwarranted tension that may cog the socio-economic master plan of the state Governor, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa.
According to him, the present onslaught by the Police against all
manners of crimes and criminality including cultism and kidnapping in
the state had never been witnessed before, adding that any such
planned protest aside discouraging the current Police leadership from
maintaining the momentum against enemies of the state, would encourage
criminal elements to perpetuate in their uneconomic activities.
Dr. Austin noted that as part of the present police leadership stance
against corruption and all forms of unprofessional activities, two
Police officers were recently shown the way of the force for assault
occasioning harm against a defensceless tricycle operator in Warri.
He said, “We are not unaware of a surreptitious plan by a group of
persons masquerading as human rights organization in our dear state
recruiting unsuspecting but gullible persons to embark on protest
allegedly against Police extortion, human rights abuse and all what
not. The arrow head of this group of persons was a member of a
renowned rights organization in the country with a branch in Delta
State who was expelled for anti-association activities. He wants to be
relevant and like a drowning man who he is, he is going around
confusing jobless people like him to stage a protest; all in a bid to
make a statement.”
- Continuing, Dr. Akaraiwe added, “At the risk of adulation, the kind of
relative peace presently being enjoyed in the state has never existed.
The Governor of the State Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa has not
only shown that he is a bridge builder but a leader that has the
interest of the good people of Delta State at heart through his
numerous people-oriented projects. On their part, the Police in the
state have to a large extent lived up to expectation especially, in
the area of civility and community policing model. Just three days
ago, two Police officers serving with the ‘A’ Division in Warri were
dismissed for assaulting and inflicting bodily injuries on a hapless
tricycle operator somewhere in Warri. Does this not tell us that the
present Police leadership is averse to corruption and
unprofessionalism? So, what is then the basis for planning a protest
when you have a Police Commissioner that is available to you on a 24
hour basis? That is why, we as a group in the People United for
Societal Harmony PUSH is rising up against such planned protest and
calling on whoever is the architect to drop the idea and embrace
peace, encourage the state government and the present Police
leadership to better the lot of the good people of Delta State and
fight crime respectively.”
