By Tony Oraeki, Awka
The people of Ezinano Community, Awka, Anambra State, have petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC) against the officer in charge of Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, Supol Iburu Ifeanyi, following what they termed unlawful use of firearms, harassment, threat to life, intimidation, and intermeddling with land matters.
This was even as some Anambra residents raised alarm over the resurgence of corruption and human rights abuses at the defunct Awkuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Oyi Local Government Area, now known as Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu.
The community in a petition signed by แปzแป Dennis Okoli, Chidozie Oforah, Okafor Charles., Kenneth Igboeze, Chief Alfred Okoli, Monwuba Ejiofor, แปzแป Obi Ochije, Okafor Chidozie and others, urged the PSC to investigate, take disciplinary action against Supol Iburu Ifeanyi, as well as refrain him from engaging on such illegalities.
According to them, Ezinano Community and Umuzuocha village have been embroiled in a land dispute, with the matter currently before the court in Suit No. A/523/2017: Chief I.G. Nwana & 6 Ors. V. Chief ESV George Okwudili & 3 Ors. and Motion on Notice No. A/308M/2020 for interlocutory injunction.
The petitioners alleged that Supol Iburu Ifeanyi has been aiding and abetting the Umuzuocha people in their destruction of Ezinano community’s economic crops, fruits and trees, and chasing away their women from their property despite the pending court case.
The petitioners claim that on September 4, 2024, Supol Iburu Ifeanyi and his team stormed the disputed land, shooting sporadically in the air and threatening to shoot members of the Ezinano Community.
They also allege that he assaulted the Youth Chairman, Tochukwu Nwokoye, arrested him, and took him to their station at Awkuzu.
This was despite the fact that the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Hasimu Argungu, in a statement signed by the Commission’s spokesman, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, restricted officers to criminal investigation while and barring them from delving into civil matters as land, rent and marital disputes.
โServing police officers who are found involved in civil matters such as land, rent and marital disputes will henceforth be sanctioned and their promotions suspended,” the statement had said.
Argungu, who noted that the failure of the police force would inevitably reflect on the Commission, said the PSC will no longer tolerate serious abuse of office by serving officers, adding that he was committed to running a transparent, open and corruption-free administration within the Commission.
But victims of the recent corrupt and rights abuses have narrated their ordeals to our correspondent, alleging extortion and harassment by police officers.
The petitioners accuse Supol Iburu Ifeanyi of providing security to the respondents in the suit, destroying their structures, and chasing away their women with bullets fired from AK 47 guns.
They argue that his actions are a clear violation of the law and an abuse of his power.
One victim claimed to have paid N300,000 for bail, while another was asked to pay N500,000 for the release of his impounded tricycle. In a follow-up inquiry, our correspondent spoke with Investigating Police Officer (IPO), one Isaac, who is handling the tricycle case.
Isaac denied allegations that he demanded N500,000 from the victim to release the impounded tricycle. Instead, he explained that the tricycle was suspected to be a stolen item, and as such, the investigation is ongoing.
He said the tricycle would not be released until the investigation is complete.
Human rights activists describe the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at Awkuzu as a reincarnation of the dreaded SARS, accused of human parts trafficking and other offenses.
