…Accuses Police Of Searching Their Home Without Warrant
The family of Mr. Gabriel Okene in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, are presently battling to save the life of their daughter, Anne Okene, who was assaulted and brutalized by police officers attached to the Ughelli ‘A’ Division alongside a Hunter group personnel identify as FRANK AGAS after storming the family house for a search without warrant, before arresting two of their children.
Presently, the daughter has been hospitalized at a private hospital.
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED:
Narrating what transpired, Mr. Joachim Okene, also a victim of the assault and a brother to the lady said; “We were in our compound at Oteri, near Ughelli, on Friday, February 2, 2024, when some policemen attached to the Ughelli ‘A’ Division and one personnel of the Hunters group, Frank Agas, an indigene of Oteri and also resident in Oteri came that they want to search our house. My mum and dad were in the house, and they asked them what the problem was and why they want his house searched, but rudely and reluctantly one of them said they were looking for my younger brother who lives in Abraka.
“They said that my younger brother had a fight with one Asuenimhen Silas who also came with them and that they are looking for him. Before my dad could respond, Mr. Frank Agas has ordered them to sit on the floor, but my elder sister who was around demanded for a search warrant. Just he was detailed to maimed the family, Mr. Frank Agas asked her to keep quite and pushed her out of his way, went inside the house and ransacked everywhere while all of us where being treated like a common criminal with my dad and mum seated on the floor.”
According to him, after all the humiliation and intimidation, and without finding my kid brother, they entered their vehicle and left, but surprisingly, they came back this time a commando style that I am under arrest to replace my brother. At this point, my elder sister told them that they should not arrest me since I am not the person the person they came for. The next thing I received was series of slaps from all corners that I should follow them, but my sister kept pleading with them. It was at the process that Mr. Frank Agas, the Hunter personnel heat her at the neck region and in confusion she held him. That was how my family was molested for minutes before they forcefully took both of us in handcuffed to the station.
BEATING AT THE STATION:
“When we got to the Ughelli ‘A’ Division, the police officers that came told their colleagues that we were resisting arrest and that my sister bit one of them in the hand. That was when the second round of beating continued and my sister fainted. Some of them were saying she should be rushed to the hospital, but some said she should be kept in the cell that she was pretending, but when they realized that she was dying, they took her to General hospital where they referred her to the Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
Realizing how weak and how she was gasping for breath, the police quickly returned her to our compound where they dumped her and left. He said with her condition, family members rushed her to a private hospital were she was admitted.
Continuing, Mr. Joachim said he was later thrown in the cell, but secured his bail with the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000).
Asked if he was aware of his younger brother Francis, having a fight with someone, he said yes.
“The issue we knew was that my brother Francis transacted a business with SILAS, but along the line, Silas swindled my brother and he ate the money alone and started avoiding my brother and rejects his calls. As a result of this, my younger brother traced him to his hide out in Warri and both of them had a fight and in the process phones were destroyed. So the issue was to escalate but some friends came in to broker peace by taking the matter to Oteri community where Silas agreed to pay him his money. But we were surprise that Silas who knew that my younger brother lives at Abraka, and their fight took place in Warri brought policemen and his friend who is a hunter personnel to come and humiliate my parents, beat me and my sister to the state she is presently”
A call put across to the Delta State Police image maker, DSP Bright Edafe, to confirm the story was not responded to but a senior police officer who is not authorized to speak confirmed the incident.
As at the time of filing this report, it was not certain if Ms. Anne Okene has been discharged, but a family source told this medium that she may be discharged on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The family are appealing to the police authority to call their men to order and as well discipline the Hunter group who molested their family and parents.