CDHR to Delta Commissioner  of Police, Call Ovwian/Aladja DPO to order, Condemns destruction of Bank Properties in Udu

Foremost human rights organisation, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Delta State Chapter, condemns in strong terms, the unguided protests and wanton destruction of properties which took place in Udu Local Government Area.

The State Chairman, Comrade Elder (Chief) Edariese Peter, made this known in a statement made available to FocalPoint Reports, on Wednesday, 15th February, 2023.

The chairman noted that the action was orchestrated by some misguided and disgruntled elements who adduced their reasons for the action to be the hardship now pervading the Nigerian Landscape as a result of the Naira Swap. 

according to the chairman, CDHR hereby commends the Police in the Delta State Police Command including men and officers of the Ovwian/Aladja Police Division and the Area Command for rising up to the occasion and bringing the situation under control with arrests of some persons found to be involved in the act.

CDHR Delta State however equally condemn in strong terms, the indiscriminate and unlawful arrests and detention of innocent Citizens both young and old men and women in the pretext of quelling further protests and destruction of properties. 

He noted that the area has remained very calm and peaceful with people going out for their normal business of life unmolested. 

"I can say without equivocation that there was never any attempt any where in Udu both yesterday and today to protest and cause further damage to properties that warrants the raid and arrests made yesterday and this morning after the raids and arrests of 15th February, 2023, as our officers were on ground at every hot spot in the area to monitor the movements of persons and their behaviours to forestall any further protest and destruction of properties.

"This morning, 17th February, 2023.
I as the State Chairman of CDHR, deployed our officers to different hot spots in Udu such as Express Junction, Orhuwhorun Junction Round About and Newyork/Udu Market area when Police Officers from Ovwian/Aladja Police Division. Looking intoxicated with passion to arrest and detain Nigerians to extort them of monies in the name of bail, drove into the streets of Udu with Four Patrol Vehicles and led by the DCO 1 of Ovwian/Aladja Police Division, 

"They Swooped on citizens who were going about their normal business of life, with some going for the  Burials of their loved ones others going to Parties and Markets etc and began to beat them up and throwing them like bags of Onion into their Vehicles and drove them away to their Station to be locked up in their Cells and subject them to heavy extortions of huge amounts of monies in the name of bail which is supposed to be free

"Perhaps, they want to enrich themselves at the expense of the traumatized Citizens who have nothing left in their hands to put food on their tables for themselves and their families each day since the Naira Exchange exercise began.

"The leader of the Police Team who is the DCO1 in Ovwian)Aladja Police Division even saw our officials who spent most time with the DPO Ovwian)Aladja and himself in an effort to get the release of an elderly, sick and deaf woman who was arrested yesterday in their illegal raids and passed them by and continued their planned arrests to achieve the objectives of their plans on ground in the areas.

"They carried out their unlawful arrests and deliberately failed to acknowledge them not to derail their work and began to do what they came out for this morning. 

"We, in CDHR, Delta State Chapter will not support any act of oppression and illegality to the Citizenry from any quarter no matter how highly placed and are prepared to fight such infractions wherever it comes from and are hereby calling on the Honourable Commissioner of Police, (CP), Delta State,Ali Mohammed Ari, to intervene in this situation by calling the DPO, Ovwian/Aladja and his men and collaborators to order. 

"Stop the present onslaught and provide peace to the law-abiding Citizens resident in Udu Local Government Area in the name of Justice and fair play.

"Failure will be an invitation to anarchy in the area and beyond, leaving the residents with the burden of hardship the currency exchange has brought upon them at the moment with its attendant adverse effects on the psyche of the Citizens of our great Country Nigeria.

"Itrust in your abilities to address this matter with a view to protecting the helpless Citizens resident in Udu from the hands of an overzealous DPO as represented by CSP Aliyu Shaaba in the present situation who is hell bent in clamping anybody into his Cells without just cause to have the opportunity to extort them of their monies from the traumatized Citizens who are now being treated as prey in his hands without regards to the dignity of the Human persons inherent in every person as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended" 

"Iwish to inform you that  Udu is no longer a den of Criminals as was the case some years ago, thanks to your efforts and those of your men in the Delta State Police Command which brought the near siege in Udu under control and restored peace to the area which was achieved by the tacit support and cooperation of officers and members of CDHR under my watch which you are a valued witness to.

"I wish to urge you to send your officers and men of integrity to Udu area now to investigate my claims here and you will be surprised to know that your Officers, DPO Ovwian/Aladja is not truthful with his reports to you on the current situation in udu which is caused by his desire to use his position to extort the Citizenry resident in Udu to build his Empire in his home State.

"We in CDHR, Delta State Chapter take exception to the classifications made by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Mr. Edafe to the effect that Udu is a den of Criminals as same is callous and uncharitable as Udu is home to many elder statesmen and responsible Nigerian too numerous to mention and I hereby demand unreserved apology on behalf of all as it stands.

Signed:
Comrade Elder (Chief) Edariese A. Peter, Chairman, CDHR, 
Delta State Chapter.