{"id":22504,"date":"2019-07-02T20:09:06","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T20:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=22504"},"modified":"2019-07-02T20:09:06","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T20:09:06","slug":"indiscriminate-arrest-of-ijaw-youths-group-petitions-ig-accuses-gov-obaseki-benin-monarch-sars-of-fueling-unrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=22504","title":{"rendered":"Indiscriminate Arrest of Ijaw Youths: Group Petitions IG, Accuses Gov. Obaseki, Benin Monarch, SARS of Fueling Unrest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><code><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=18972&amp;ad_type=81&amp;rl=1800\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/code><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The National President, Ijaw Peoples&#8217; Development Initiative(IPDI) Comrade Ozobo Austin has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP),\u00a0 AIG zone 5, to prevail on the Commissioner of Police in Edo state to release all Ijaws unlawfully arrested\u00a0 over the land dispute in Gelegelegbene without further delay in the interest of peace ,law and order in the state.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Comrade Ozobe who addressed a press conference in Effurun, Delta State today accused Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the <strong>Benin Monarch and<\/strong> SARS for the indiscriminate and unlawful arrests ,detention ,intimidation and harrassement of Gelegelegbene community Ijaws in Edo state<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">He warned the police in Edo state not to allow their officers to be used by the Monarch against law biding citizens adding that &#8220;this act of the police lawlessness has made us lost confidence in them, as they always choose to break law and order.&#8221; Below is full text of the press briefing<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN WARRI 2ND JULY ,2019 OVER THE UNLAWFUL ARRESTS, CONTINUES DETENTION, INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT OF IJAWS IN EDO STATE BY NIGERIA POLICE UNDER SPECIAL ANTI_ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS) AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE SECURITY SERVICE (DSS) EDO STATE POLICE COMMANDS BY THE DIRECTIVE OF OBA OF BENIN<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">A CALL ON THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, IGP, TO ORDER FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL IJAWS UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED AND DETAINED BY SARS IN EDO STATE FORCE HEADQUARTERS TO AVOID BREAK DOWN OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE STATE<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS,<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">RESPECTED NIGER DELTA ACTIVISTS,<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS,<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">LADIES AND GENTLEMEN<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">We are here to brief the press over the continues indiscriminate and unlawful arrests ,detention ,intimidation and harassment of members of Gelegelegbene community and other Ijaws in Edo state by the law enforcement agents, precisely the police under Special ant_robbery squad and Department of state security service, DSS Edo state by the directive of the Oba of Benin and Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">We got a distress call in our office on Thursday June 27th at about 11am from members of Gelegelegbene ,Ekenwan and Ikoro communities in Olodiama Kingdom that their sons were unlawfully arrested by SARS in Edo state force headquarters which was orchestrated by Benin Monarch using some unscrupulous Ijaw sons as pointers. The names of those who were arrested and detained on that Thursday were given as Comrade Daniel Ezekiel, Sam Ebiwana and Abiodun Peter Eda.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">While we were trying to find out what transpires, we were told again that another whose name was given as Olu Priye Oyeh was abducted in Gestapo manner on 29th Friday. Another innocent boy that was sent to gave food to them was also arrested and detained on the process. We have sent several lawyers to find out what happens but they were denied access to detainees by the SARS operatives.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Sadly, Yesterday been 1st of July ,2019 another son of Ijaw, Mr Olu Derimo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen suspected to be SARS in the state.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><strong>This informed the reason for this press conference. The lives of our people in Edo state are been endangered. This indiscriminate and unlawful arrests are uncalled for. This is the worse form of injustice and slavery.\u00a0 This is been orchestrated by Benin Monarch and police in Edo state using some Ijaw idiots as pointers. The persons arrest all together are now six in number.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The Edo state assembly report on 30th Jan, 2013 does not says that Gelegelegbene community belongs to Benin. The report equally dismissed the claims of Okao-Gelegele that Benin owns Gelegelegbene community and other Ijaw communities&#8217; lands. The report affirmed that Ijaws are the predominant of Gelegelegbene community. This was a report after the purported 1983 supreme court judgement that only referred to a parcel of land in an unknown location of one imaginary Gelegele.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><strong>We are aware that our people are been arrested,\u00a0 detained, humiliated, intimidated and harassed unlawfully because of their strong opposition to Oba of Benin on an attempt to grab their land to build an estate. Gelegelegbene community and other Ijaw communities in Edo state belongs to Ijaw People ,and it is the right of the Ijaws of that territory to secure their lands. Our people never committed any crime for opposing Benin land grabbers.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The current Oba of Benin can not claim feign ignorant over the existence of Ijaw kingdoms in Edo state, the Ijaws in Ovia local government had their Kings &#8211; the Pere of Olodiama and the Agadagba of Egbema. Pere of Olodiama is in the mid-Western State of Nigeria Gazette, No. 56, Vol. 10 dated 10th October 1973, State Traditional N.S.L.N. Volume 62 of 1973, the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree, 1966, Iyekuselu District Council (Appointment of Chieftaincy Committee) Order, 1973 gave a legal backing to the Pere of Olodiama with his seat at Ikoro, in Olodiama Clan. The Agadagba of Egbema, the Bendel State Traditional Rulers and Chief Edict 1979, extraordinary Gazette No. 51 Vol. 16 of September 28, 1979 gave a legal teeth to the Agadagba of Egbema with four ruling communities.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The police authorities and the general public should take notice of the above facts. They should not throw caution to the wind as the issue if not well handled ,it can explode and snowball.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The police authorities in Edo state should have a rethink of their actions which is capable of breaking down of law and order in Edo state and Niger Delta at large. The police in Edo state for their best interest should stop collaboration with the Benin Monarch to continue incarceration of our people namely, Comrade Daniel Ezekiel, Sam Ebiwana , Abiodun Peter Eda, Oil Priye Oyeh and Olu Deremo who are the bread winners of their respective families.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">This act of indiscipline among police in Edo state must stop. The fundamental rights of our people are been trampled upon.\u00a0 According to the provision of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as (amended). Chapter four of the 1999 constitution spelt out the fundamental rights of every citizen of this country.\u00a0 Our peoples right of personal liberty which is clearly stated in section 35 has been breached by their continues detention. In subsection 5( a) emphasizes that no suspect shall be detained beyond one day especially when it falls within a radius of forty kilometres where there is a court of competent jurisdiction. But they have been unlawfully detained for over 6days despite there is a court of competent jurisdiction in Benin city.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=18972&amp;ad_type=81&amp;rl=1800\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">It may interest you to know that despite the level of accusation or suspicion against above persons they still have rights of fair hearing as stipulated by section 36. They should be brought to court if the Benin Monarch as anything against them and let them exercise their rights of fair hearing.\u00a0 They equally have freedom of expression and press as contained in section 39. If anyone in the course of exercising of his or her rights of expression and press commit libel, defamation, slander and verbal assault ,it does not amounts to any criminal breach of conduct. But you can demand for verbal redress or sue for legal redress which is a civil matter. It is wrong for police turning civil matters to criminal issues. This could be attributed to the poor educational background and training of many police in the country and a drastic step should be proffer to it ,as it is so embarrassing.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Those we referred above have been in incarceration beyond the required time ,their freedom of movement has been infringed as spelt out in section 41by their continues detention. We are no longer comfortable with this brazen act of compromise on the part of Nigeria police force.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The police has turned a lawless and very disorganized force. They acted uncoordinated. Nigerians live in fear of the police than common criminals. Nigerians police has becomes a threat to the survival of the ordinary Nigerian.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Imagine, Daniel Ezekiel wrote petition to the police at zone 5 and DSS ,the DSS refused to attend to the petition because the accused person is their friend. The same police was used by the accused person early last month to arrest Daniel Ezekiel while part of the matter is in the court and while investigation is ongoing against the accused person at zone5 on the other hand. This is shameful and disappointing.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">This happened because the centre police heads is wicked, very political and can not inculcate proper discipline on the police. The Benin Monarch is not above the law. The police in Edo state should not allow their officers to be used by the Monarch against law biding citizens. This act of the police lawlessness has made us lost confidence in them, as they always choose to break law and order.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">On this backdrop we call on the Inspector General of police ,IGP, AIG zone 5, to prevail on the Commissioner of police in Edo state to swing into action in a view of releasing all Ijaws unlawfully arrested mentioned above in the state without further delay for the interest of peace ,law and order in the state.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Signed<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Comrade Ozobo Austin<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">National Ijaw People&#8217;s Development initiative, IPDI.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Comrade Peter Luke, security Secretary<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">IPDI.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Amb. Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene Peters Jnr<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">(National Coordinator, IIA; Izanaan Intellectual Camp)<\/div>\n<p><code><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=18972&amp;ad_type=81&amp;rl=1800\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/code><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National President, Ijaw Peoples&#8217; Development Initiative(IPDI) Comrade Ozobo Austin has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP),\u00a0 AIG zone 5, to prevail on the Commissioner of Police in Edo state to release all Ijaws unlawfully arrested\u00a0 over the land dispute in Gelegelegbene without further delay in the interest of peace ,law and order [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":22505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[3040,1735,4081],"class_list":["post-22504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-godwin-obaseki","tag-ipdi","tag-ozobo-austin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ozobo.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oswh-5QY","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22504"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22506,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22504\/revisions\/22506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}