The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has called on the Anambra State government to ensure that those arrested and detained for alleged criminal offenses are charged to court within the constitutionally prescribed timeframes.

Board Chairman of Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi in a statement, said that the group had been inundated with reports of indiscriminate breaches of citizens’ constitutional liberties by agents of the state government in the guise of providing security.

He stated that the group was in possession of strong evidence that the state security outfit, Agunechemba had allegedly been arresting and detaining people under false labelling in the state.

The group called on Governor Charles Soludo to investigate the activities of Agunechemba Security outfit to avoid dragging the state into unnecessary controversy.

The group also raised concerns about the Custodian to the ancient market deity, Nze Chukwunenye Okoli-Udo , saying it was the crux of an 11- page petition it earlier sent to the state government.

“The 11-Page special guide letter was dated Thursday, June 19, 2025 and titled: A Special Guide For Protection And Preservation Of Ancient Communal Deities and Allied Traditional Institutions, their Chief Priests Or Custodians In Anambra State and Specific Strong Call For Protection Of 600-Year-Old Udo-Orie Uga Deity And Her Chief Priest In Accordance With International Freedom Of Religion Or Worship Or Belief-Pursuant To Section 38 Of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, Article 18 Of UDHR (1948), Article 18 Of ICCPR (1976) And Article 8 Of ACHPR (1981).

“We had in the referenced letter called on the Government of Anambra State and the Anambra State Police authorities to ensure that the threatened ancient Market Deity and her Chief Priest, Nze Chukwunenye Okoli-Udo are protected from the threatening hands of some community leaders and radical members of the Christian faith.

“From our records, the ancient market Deity had survived more than seven destructive attacks in the past thirteen years and we had risen in strong defense of her protection and perseveration for not less than five times including in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021.

“Presently, those making such threats have resorted to the use of the State Security outfit Agunaechemba and their central and local commanders and leaders who apparently lack knowledge and traditional expertise in matters of the nobility and oracular ways of lives of the ancient Igbo Society and their benevolently bequeathed antiquities and sacred sanctuaries especially those relating to communal security, customs and norms and commerce,” he said.

The statement renewed the call for the unconditional release of Chief Udoka Ejimu having been detained for more than 150 days or five months at the State CID Annex in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the State.

“Intersociety seriously frowns at such “Police State captivity” which is nothing short of grave violation of Section 35 (4) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution under fundamental human right to Personal Liberty and allied others provided in the country’s Regional and International Human Rights Treaty Laws.

“The above is more so when the Constitutional Section 35 (4) places 60 days detention limits for any citizen accused by the detaining authority strictly at ensuring continuation and conclusion of investigations into criminal offenses bordering on severe punishments including 20 years imprisonment to life jail or above”, the group said.

Ejimu was arrested in January this year and has been held since then without trial over allegations of kidnapping.