Some youths in Muasonye Umuariam, in the Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, on Wednesday protested against what they described as the use of security details by two influential residents to intimidate and harass people in the community.
The peaceful protest, which started from the Central School, Umuariam, around 8.17am, later moved to the Obowo Divisional Police Station.
The group carried placards with different inscriptions, including, ‘IGP, we trust that you will salvage us from the unconstitutional use of armed personnel by Chibueze Adiele and Prince Onyemuche Udochukwu Uhuegbu,’ ‘IGP Adamu, save us from Chibueze Adiele and Prince Onyemuche Uhuegbu Brutalities,’ ‘Detach policeman from VIPs,’ and ‘Umuasonye youths are law abiding,’ among others.
Speaking at the police station, the President of the youth organisation, Mr Uchenna Onwuka, said the protest was to lodge a complaint against the two residents, whom he accused of using their police details wrongly.
“The police officers work with information from them. They molest our people. They stop any fingered person and order that he should be locked in a private residence of their master. Whenever you raise your voice against them, you will be targeted and dealt with,” Onwauka added.
Another resident, Mr Okechukwu Anyanwu, narrated instances where Uhuegbu allegedly used his police details to stop a youth in the area and ordered that his motorcycle be seized.
A protester, Ben Ekezie, said the group wanted the police in the council to call the men to order.
The Divisional Police Officer of the area, Shehu Idris, thanked the youth for being peaceful and law abiding.
Idris, a Chief Superintendent of Police, assured that the matter would be reported to the state Commissioner of Police, Issac Akimoyede, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
He said, “I want to categorically state that the police officers attached to them are not from this division. We don’t know where they got their police details. Meanwhile, I will make a formal report to the CP for necessary action.”
When called on the phone for comments, Adiele declined comments.
He said, “I cannot talk to you journalist until I see you in person. I don’t talk to somebody I don’t know on the phone.”
PUNCH
