The youth leader of Ezinano community in Awka of Anambra state, Mr Tochukwu Nwokoye has narrated his ordeal in the hands of Supol Ifeanyi Iburu, the officer incharge of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu in Oyi local government council of the state.
Nwokoye, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday in the hospital where he was receiving treatment, said his experience was not only terrifying but horrible.
He said they were on their ancestral land at Ezinano when a team of police men allegedly led by Iburu suddenly stormed the place, shooting sporadically, ordering them to lie down or be shot.
He said: “We were at our land at Ezinano on September 1, 2024. We have plotted the land, fenced it, even our women have planted cassava there. When we went there, we discovered that some people came with excavators and were destroying our crops, removing beacons.
“We sent our Youth Secretary to B division, in Awka, to make entry along with the ladies who planted cassava there. The Divisional Police Officer in charge of B division sent two policemen to know what was happening, before then we had stopped those people with excavators from destroying our crops and removing our beacons.
“As we were there, suddenly,we saw some people with guns shooting and asking us to lie down or risk being killed. We obeyed and they are about 15 in number. As the Youths leader, I asked them what was the problem, instead, they started beating me.
“One of the B Division officers sent by their DPO told them they were there to investigate the problem, they resorted to beating him, describing him as one of the accomplices of criminalities in the town. At that time the youths with me wanted to be angry, so I calmed them down.
“They asked me why we came to the land and I told them that it is our land. Immediately, they started videoing us and the land. They did not tell us the problem or who sent them.
“They took me away to RRS headquarters at Awkuzu and after reaching Ukpor- Abba junction, Iburu started calling one Peter saying that he should bring out AK from the armoury. When I asked him what was happening, he threatened to kill me if I did not take my time.
“He said we have been killing people and burying them in that land, thinking that nobody knows. He told me that if they could not trace any grave there, they would kill one person and bury him there, and we will answer the question.
“When we got to Awkuzu RRS Station, they brought out one AK 47 rifle, tried to hang it on my neck, I resisted it and they started beating me again and forcefully hung the gun on my neck and took pictures of me with the gun.
“After that, he ordered that I be sent to cell five, meanwhile,he had not taken any statement from me. As I got inside the cell,I saw about seven malnourished persons and they told me for three months they have not eaten.
“At about 6.30 to 8 pm they called my name and said that I should wear my clothes. I wore my clothes,they started threatening to kill me again and I asked again , what is the problem? He said that we have been killing people and burying them in that land. He said that if they could not find any one ,they would bury one for us and show the AK47 he found with me.
” I never knew we were heading to the office of the State Commissioner of Police and when we got there,the CP asked him whether he recovered the AK47 from me, he said no. He asked him again whether he snapped a picture of me with AK, he said no. The CP then directed he should release me.
“The CP asked me to call my people for bail and I told him that they collected my phone. Then, Supol Iburu ordered one of his boys to give me my phone. I also told the CP that I had N350,000 in my car which I collected from UBA and I couldn’t find it.
“When we left the CP office to Awkuzu, they started beating me again. I told him what they were doing was not right and if they killed me, the Commissioner was already aware of my whereabouts and my people too. He started shouting at me, calling one of his boys to go and find out where there is a dead body and plant it on the land so that they will make a case with my people.
“I told him that, ‘Thank God you have told CP you did not recover any gun from me’. I also told him that I don’t have any criminal matter or record before any authority, then, they resumed the beating.
“When we got to Awkuzu Station,they released me and since then,I have been visiting the hospital, treating myself.”
Also speaking, a community leader from Ezinano, Arinze Ekelem, described Nwokoye as a patriotic son of the Ezinano community.
He said that he was surprised when he learnt that awkuzu RRS arrested, detained and tortured him.
Ekelem equally expressed surprise that a rifle was allegedly hung on his neck and the Awkuzu police took pictures of him with the gun.
“We don’t need to quarrel with the Police,they are doing good jobs but they should do their work according to the dictates of the Constitution. RRS is not supposed to be involved in land matters,” he said.
He said that even if somebody had reported any infraction,the police should do their due investigation and not resort to self help, threatening to kill and harassing innocent people.
When contacted, the Anambra police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu ikenga, said: “I don’t have any report or information on the matter.”
When our reporter told him that the youth leader of Ezinano in Awka was accusing Iburu of harassment, he said: “Tell the youth leader to see me with his proof. He must come with equity and clean hands.”
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
