Delta youths petition Buhari over unlawful detention since 2020

No fewer than 14 youths from Utagba-Ogbe, Ndokwa West Council of Delta State, have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman, to intervene and facilitate the release of their kinsmen from detention.

In the petition, signed by Duke Okolafor, and made available to journalists in Asaba, yesterday, they alleged that the detainees were arrested since 2020 for protesting against extortion from some community leaders in connivance with some police officers.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Police Service Commission (PSC) in Abuja, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Assembly, among others.

Okolafor said the detainees exposed alleged corrupt practices of some community chiefs in Kwale, which involved some police officers and their subordinates.

He specifically accused a senior police officer of abandoning his duty post for Kwale to extort money meant for development of the community, adding that he used a former DPO, who he said, “collected millions of naira to ensure that our youths are detained since last year without trial.

“We appeal to you to use your good offices to release our brothers and ensure that rule of law prevails in this matter. He appealed that the detainees should be granted bail, pending when they were ready to prove the allegations of corrupt practices against the indicted persons in the community.