Ebonyi Rally: Rights Activist Calls for Release of Detained Obi Supporters

A human rights activist, Comrade Paul Njoku, has urged Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to direct the State Police Command to release supporters of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi reportedly arrested and detained during the 1 Million March rally on Saturday.

Njoku made the call in a press statement issued on Saturday. According to him, “the ruthless disruption and radical interruption with teargass and lethal force during the peaceful rally against Nigerians by the Ebonyi State Police Command and government agents is barbaric, primitive and anti-democratic.”

He went further : “As an executive governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, it is believed that his primary responsibility is to safeguard lives and property of citizens, uphold and respect the constitution.

“If Mr. Umahi is not an enemy of constitutional democracy in Nigeria where freedom of movement, association and assembly are guaranteed in the constitution and if he was not aware of the Police brutality meted out on the peaceful rallyists as claimed, he should publicly apologise and petition the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police for punitive and disciplinary measures.

“The damage control by the state government and Ebonyi State Police Command is deceitful and unacceptable till the needful is activated to forestall future reoccurrence.