Ben Dunno, Warri

The leadership of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Udu Unit, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, has demanded an urgent drastic solution to the menace of extortion and human rights abuses by the policemen operating within the area and its environs.

Coordinator of the CDHR, Udu Unit, Comrade Derrick Agberen, who made the call when he led other members of the group on a courtesy visit to the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Owvian-Aladja police station in Udu, CSP Yakubu Nda Mohammed, in his office, at the weekend, lamented the alarming increase in cases of abuses and extortions by police in the area.

Comrade Agberen, who disclosed that the visit of the Udu Unit members to the DPO was sequel to the approval of the Delta state CDHR exco, ably led by its Chairman, Comrade (Dr.) Prince Kehinde Taiga, after series of deliberations on the rate of abuses in the area, noted that it was the collective resolve of the members to put an end to the ugly development.

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According to him, “As a voice to the voiceless, we are saddled with the responsibility to protect these rights as enshrined in and guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, especially regarding issues of police extortion, illegal arrest, over detention, unbailable charges imposed on suspects and not giving suspects fair hearing in courts.

“The extortion carried out by junior police officers and other security agencies such as vigilante have become an unrealistic mirage.

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“The money requested as bail should also be nipped as well as the temporary check point always mounted by the police to create an avenue to extorting motorists and law-abiding citizens.

“Furthermore, we are obliged to inform you that the leadership of CDHR Udu as part of our mission has decided to partner with genuine personality like you in searching for a practical and ladtin solution to the numerous  challenges affecting Udu Local Government Area and its environs.

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“It is on record that cultism has eaten deep into the streets of Udu, guns are now like GSM phones in the hands of miscreants, armed and unarmed robbers and numerous forms of violence are now so common to us unlike before.

“The numbers of youths that has been killed in cult clashes has increased to an unprecedented level in the history of Udu and we are now more concerned than ever, hence the need why we have decides to come to you today to see how we can synergise to rid our community of this violent crimes”, Comrade Agberen stated.

Responding the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Udu, CSP Yakubu Nda Mohammed, assured the group of his commitment to work with them to tackle all the issues raised, especially the aspects that has to do with police extortion and human rights abuses as well as other violent crimes  highlighted   by the body.