The Executive Director of Inspiring Generation and Human Support Foundation, IGHUSUF Africa, Prince Darlington Onwe has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), relevant stakeholders and the Ebonyi state government to intervene and demanded justice over an alleged unprovoked assault and other rights violation against him.
Onwe, who accused one Mr Chikaodiri Ojemba, the Chairman of the Consolidated Ebonyi Quarry Owners Association, of masterminding the assault on him, cited that his rights according to Section 34(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, as amended, were violated.
He maintained that constitutionally, every citizen has the right to the dignity of the human person, which includes the right to be free from torture or inhuman treatment.
Onwe, however, lamented that he was dehumanised and assaulted by a group of thugs allegedly loyal to Ojemba and, consequently, appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene and demand that justice be served.
The IGHUSUF Director explained: "This my case of unprovoked assault, violation of fundamental human rights, and unlawful use of agents of government was masterminded by Mr Chikaodiri Ojemba.
"I stand before you today with a heavy heart, seeking justice and the truth. I come before you not as a mere individual but as a citizen of this great nation, Nigeria, and Ebonyi State, who has been subjected to unimaginable cruelty, assault, false accusations, defamation of character and severe injustice.
"On Thursday, the 21st Day of March 2025, I was physically assaulted and dehumanised by a group of over fifteen individuals, including thugs allegedly hired by Mr Chikaodiri Ojemba, the Chairman of the Consolidated Ebonyi Quarry Owners Association. These assailants were not alone; they were accompanied by heavily armed security personnel from the police force, who were tasked with maintaining the peace but instead became active participants in this unlawful act of violence.
"This brutal assault took place without any provocation, and I was subjected to physical harm and humiliation, all of which were carefully planned and executed by these individuals and also filmed.
"Consequently, the men and officers of the Nigerian Police from Zonal Office Umuahia had arrived in Ebonyi on Tuesday for a lawful arrest on a matter involving murder, cultism, et al., for which I'm both a complainant and pointer. They properly arrived at the police headquarters and the relevant area command as well as the division. Their activity document was duly acknowledged and treated.
"However, the suspects could not be found within the days when they stayed for the investigation activities. However, while leaving, the Area Command Abakaliki was committed to effecting arrests and communicating them for a pickup. Against this backdrop, on the morning of Thursday, 21st March 2025, I accompanied the Station Officer at the Abakaliki Area Command and two other police officers to effect the arrest. Upon getting to the suspect's house, the S.O. went into the suspect's compound and enquired about his whereabouts, but his wife denied his availability in the house.
"Thereafter, we feigned our departure, and the suspect fell for it and quickly arranged to use the only exit point to the runway. Upon approaching us, the officer flagged him, and on noticing that he was an officer, he sped off, and we followed until he made an entrance to Mr Chikaodiri Ojemba's house off Transahara African Road off Onuebonyi Junction, where some thugs and armed policemen forced us to stop, threatened to shoot us, slapped and disarmed the police officer, and also forced the other two officers to sit on the ground.
"It was not long when Mr Ojemba arrived with six other heavily armed police security personnel. Then he asked the S.O. to explain what happened while explaining the other officers and thugs could not allow him to narrate the situation. While this was happening, Mr. Ojemba, turning to me, began lambasting the S.O. for coming to arrest someone who looked like a kidnapper.
"I immediately responded, saying, with due respect, I am not a kidnapper." Immediately, his police security personnel attached to him and thugs numbering over fifteen descended on me, beating, slapping, boxing, and kicking me. They slid me down and were kicking me indiscriminately in my chest, stomach, and ribs.
"While they forcefully compelled me to keep lying down, including two of the three policemen who came for the arrest from Abakaliki Area Command, Mr Ojemba placed a call to the Commissioner of Police, raising the false alarm that some kidnappers came to kidnap him. After a short while, two police vans filled with heavily armed policemen draughted from the Crack Squad of the Nigerian Police Ebonyi State Command arrived and bundled me and the officers from the area command into the vans.
"Thereafter, at the headquarters, the facts of the matter were established, and it was discovered that police activity of the area command is genuine. Then, the Crack unit helped me to rush to the police clinic for medical care. However, due to the severe nature of the internal injury sustained as a result of the gruesome assault, I was quickly referred to the Emergency Unit of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, where I was receiving my treatment.
"As a law-abiding citizen, I now call upon the relevant authorities to act swiftly and justly:
"The Inspector General of Police to ensure that a full investigation is conducted into the brutal assault I endured and the subsequent false accusations made against me, with the aim of judicious prosecution in the interest of justice.
"The Director General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to look into the matter, ensuring that justice is served and those responsible for the assault and defamation are held accountable.
"The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, to thoroughly review the conduct of the police personnel involved in my unlawful detention, particularly their failure to protect me, their negligence in ensuring my prompt access to medical care, and their role in facilitating a false accusation.
"The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State to use his office to ensure the safety and security of citizens so that such incidents of brutality and injustice are not repeated.
"Furthermore, I urge the State Director of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) in Ebonyi State to intervene and demand that those responsible for this miscarriage of justice are promptly brought to book.
"I also appeal to all stakeholders in our justice system to ensure that due process is followed and that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is upheld. According to Section 34(1) of the Constitution, every citizen has the right to the dignity of the human person, which includes the right to be free from torture or inhuman treatment. The actions against me were a direct violation of this fundamental right. The Criminal Code, in sections 335 and 339, also condemns unlawful detention and assault, and I call on the authorities to ensure that these provisions are respected and enforced.
"I remain steadfast in my belief that the truth will prevail, and I trust that justice will be served in the end. I thank you all for your support as I seek justice and accountability." It stated.
Meanwhile, Ojemba declined to comment when contacted, including telephone calls, text messages and WhatsApp chats as at the time of filing this report.
Also, the police spokesman of the Ebonyi State Command, SP Joshua Ukandu said he was not aware of the matter when contacted by our Correspondent.
