The Imo State Police Command has describe the news making rounds online about the Torture and harassment of three young men in Owerri recently as false, in a press release signed by the PPRO of the command Michael Abattam CSP, Denied the allegation but put to put the record straight he explained what transpired as a rescue mission by the gallant men of the force.
“IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND
PRESS RELEASE 10/12/2021
REJOINDER
RE:POLICE TORTURE, HARASS THREE YOUNG MEN IN OWERRI
The attention of the Imo State Police Command has been drawn to a false online news making rounds on social media platform, published by CRIME FACTS NEWS, on 7th day of December, 2021 captioned “Exclusive: One killed as Police Torture, Harass Three young Men in Owerri ” written by one Ibe Pascal Arogorn, alleging among other things that, one person was killed after operatives of the Imo Police Command were seen over the weekend torturing three boys at Rapour Junction along Onitsha-Owerri Road Owerri, Imo State, for their membership of the outlawed IPOB’s ESN. The command views this post as malicious, false and misleading.
Firstly, let me correct the impression created by the publisher that, there is no Rapour Junction along Onitsha/Owerri Road, rather, Rapour Junction is at Amakohia, Owerri, Imo State. Also the picture of a purported dead young man he displayed with ENDSARS written underneath has no connection with the incident that took place on the said day as there was no killing nor torturing of anyone rather the police operatives responded on time to a distress call and exhibited a high level of professionalism in effecting the arrest of the two young men shown to them, by the distress caller.
However, the facts of the incident that took place at Rapour junction on the 7th day of December, 2021 at about 1645 hours, was that, a distress call was received at the Police Headquarters Control Room from one Silver Ogechi Charles ‘f’ aged 39 years of Amakohia, Owerri, Imo State, reporting that while in a function, she saw and recognized three young men who were part of the persons that kidnapped her on 5/12/2021, and decided to leave the event arena, unfortunately they saw her too and followed her behind. She became afraid that they might want to eliminate her for recognizing them, hence she had to call the police.
On arrival at the scene while the woman in-distress was explaining to Police operatives and pointing at the three young men about entering a lexus jeep to be the ones who kidnapped her some days ago, one of them jumped out of the car and ran away, and the other two became violent creating scene with intent to escape hence, reasonable force was applied by the police operatives to arrest them and were taken alongside the Lexus jeep to the commands Anti kidnapping unit with the woman for interrogation.
At this juncture, it is worthy to mention that, it is on record that the commands Anti kidnapping unit is investigating a case of kidnapping, where on the 5th December, 2021, at about 0830hrs, at Amakohia this same woman was kidnapped by six armed men while she was driving to church in her blue coloured Toyota camry car and was taken to an unknown destination but for the prompt report of the incident and immediate response of the gallant and ever ready Imo commands tactical teams, the kidnappers were traced to their hideout, where two suspects were arrested and others escaped. The woman was rescued unhurt and her Toyota camry car was recovered. While investigation is ongoing and efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects, coincidentally by divine intervention, three of them resurfaced at the event where one of them escaped and the others were arrested
May I state emphatically here that, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, psc, has zero tolerance for corruption and under his watch will not support or shield any police officer found wanting for any unprofessional conduct.
While the command frowns at this unverified publication of the CRIME FACTS NEWS, it is using this medium to advise the writer and others who wish to tow the same line to desist from it and make sure they always verify their stories before posting same online.
Similarly, the general public, especially the good people of Imo State are hereby advised to disregard the false news online as the Command is working assiduously in ensuring that, lives and properties are protected and have emplaced enough crime fighting strategies to make sure that Imolites enjoy a crime free yuletide season.”
CSP MICHAEL ABATTAM
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
IMO STATE COMMAND
