Commercial activities and vehicular movement were halted for several hours in Ughelli on Wednesday, February 14, as protesters barricaded roads within the metropolis over alleged misconducts of Policemen and local security agents, (The Hunter Group) in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters armed with placards displaying inscriptions such as, ‘Freeman is a Kidnapper he must go, ‘Police Brutality is getting too much, ‘Police in Ughelli are fighting the innocents instead of criminals, ‘Too much of police illegal activities in the land, ‘Ughelli Police should allow our people free movement’ amongst other, accused a team of the police and Hunters attached to the Ughelli Area command of alleged abduction, extortion, illegal searching of phones and forceful extortion and withdrawal of money from account.
Addressing newsmen, the President General of Ekiugbo community, Comrade Bernard Baker, said, “We are protesting because of the unnecessary things being perpetrated by the Hunters group and few policemen especially one called Freeman and a personnel of the Hunter group identified as Makolomi.
“Lots of kidnapping is happening in and around Ughelli and communities around us despite the efforts of the Ovie, (King), the Ughelli Descendant Union UDU, President General. He even brought all the communities Presidents together to have a force as security is concerned and we have been doing the job.
“But the police are just there going about terrorizing, intimidating, humiliating and extorting the people as they move about with battle axe, PoS machine to transfer money from whoever they arrest. So it is surprising to see police officers with battle axe, cutlasses and with POS machine. In fact, they are worst than criminals.
“We came to know that the Hunters are the mastermind of kidnapping in Ughelli led by that same Freeman, anytime there is an issue of kidnapping and they are called, the Hunters will not come because they are hiding the kidnappers. Just last week at the palace here, a Prince was brutalized by these group of people led by the same Inspector Freeman.
“We are here to tell our father, the king that all the rumors that the Hunters are collaborating with some of the police and brain behind the kidnapping in the town is true and we want them to leave our kingdom for us to have peace.
“They arrest infants and pregnant women in Ekiugbo community for no just cause, they brutalized our youth chairman and one other person who they rushed either to police station or hospital.
“We are calling for the dismissal of that police officer called Freeman, his son who is between 15 to 16 yrs is currently having two weeks buildings at Ekiugbo community with over four different cars that worth more than N10 million each. We want that his son to be investigated.
On his part the chaIrman of Ekiugbo vigilantes, Mr Ovwigho Emmanuel said, “I was in my compound when I heard noise and when I came out, I saw policemen that I know, one Freeman Lucky and being an officer that I know, I went to make an inquiry on what was happening.
“He started pushing me away and I also observed that his colleague were threatening to shot, and as that was not enough, the Hunter guy, Makolomi came pushing me forcefully.
“Immediately I left them, they started shooting and arresting people but my intention was to protect them against mob as people that we both walk together.
“After going with three arrested persons, an hour later, they came to my house to arrest one of our person, Mr One Love after using battle axe on him and our youth chairman.
“I believed the police are to protect lives and properties, but these particular ones working under the Area Commander here are brutalizing people and exploiting the people through intimidation and use of dangerous weapons.”
Reacting to the protest, the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Dr Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III said, “I am in support of my people because the protest is a genuine one and from there we will solve the problems that this Freeman and the Hunters are causing.
“For now we have known one of the Police Officer, Freeman Lucky who always use Hunters to batter people with battle axe. He led his group last week to arrest the kingdom vigilantes and Otovwodo Civil Defence just like what he has done yesterday at Ekiugbo community.
“That Policeman called Freeman is another problem in our Kingdom and just as he is been described, he is the one we know now as the judas in this Ughelli kingdom.
“The Hunters and Freeman are the people responsible for the activities going in our community and we cannot arrest them.”
Meanwhile, the Ughelli Police and members of the hunters group have been accused of bursting into peoples home for search without warrant and maiming residents as their nefarious activities have been left unchecked and control.
The hunters group have arrogated to themselves constitutional powers belonging to only the police as they now mount road blocks, harassed commercial motorists and other road users while demanding for drivers licenses and vehicle particulars.
It has also been alleged that most of the violent crimes taking place in area are carried out with the connivance of these group and some police officers.
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