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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Police Run Amuck, Beat Up Residents, Shop Owners In Aba

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A team of Policemen in Aba, Abia State at Ogbor Hill yesterday ran amok, beating up and arresting passers-by and shop owners, accusing them of being okada riders.

 

The policemen armed with guns, machetes and heavy sticks, and said to hail from the Aba Area Command, stormed Opobo junction to arrest Okada riders in the area, but were dismayed that some people came to plead for the release of the arrested persons.

 

Trouble started for the residents of the area when a spare parts dealer along the Ikot Ekpene road whose name was given as Okey went to beg the police team that the man they arrested was not an Okada rider but the policemen got enraged and started beating him with sticks.

 

Not satisfied with the beating of the spare parts dealer as well as others they have dumped in their vehicle, the policemen started shooting and began arresting anybody they could lay their hands on.

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A road side trader told our correspondent that a soldier, who came to plead with the police team to be civil in their approach, was waved off and told to mind his business or they deal with him.

 

The situation caused panic along Ikot Ekpene road as shop owners; roadside traders as well as motorists abandoned their vehicles and fled to safety. When the shootings died down, over 10 sustained injuries from the incident and were receiving medical attention at a chemist shop as at the time our correspondent visited the area.

 

An eyewitness account told our correspondent that the arrested suspects numbering over 7 were beaten to stupor as they were beaten with machetes, gun butts and planks.

An okada rider who spoke on the condition of anonymity alleged that the police attacked them because they decided to stop the daily contributions they made to the police when the demand from different police teams became unbearable.

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A cross section of people gathered at the chemist shop was heard saying the policemen should allow the okada riders to operate because there are no other jobs to engage youths.

 

“What do the police want these youths to do? There are no jobs. They have taken to okada riding to engage themselves and feed their families. It is better than involving themselves in criminal activities.  They should allow the okada people be; at they are operating off the main town.”

 

Attempts to get the reaction of the Aba Police Area Commander, Peter Wagbara or the Abia state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna were unsuccessful.

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