Vehicular movement and commercial activities were restricted for hours as protesters from Ekiugbo community, barricade roads within Ughelli metropolis over alleged misconduct of Police and local security agents in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters armed with placards displaying inscriptions such as, ‘Freeman is a Kidnapper he must go, ‘Police Brutality is getting too much, ‘Police in Ughelli are fighting the innocents instead of criminals, ‘Too much of police illegal activities in the land, ‘Ughelli Police should allow our people free movement’ amongst other, accuse a sect of the police and Hunters attached to the Ughelli Area command of alleged kidnapping.
Addressing newsmen, the president general of Ekiugbo community, Comrade Bernard Baker, said, “We are protesting because of the unnecessary things being penetrated by Hunters and few policemen mostly the one called Freeman and a Hunter identified as Makolomi.
Lot of kidnapping has been going on in our communities and despite the efforts of the Ovie, UDU, President general, who brought all the communities presidents general to have a force as as security is concerned and we have been doing the job.
“But the police are just there to go and terrorized and extort people as they move about with battle axe, PoS machine to transfer money from the suspect, it is surprising to see police officers with battle axe.
We came to know that the Hunters are the mastermind of kidnapping in Ughelli led by that same Freeman, anytime there is an issue of kidnapping and the Hunters will not come because they are hiding the kidnappers.
Until last week at the palace here, a Prince was brutalized by these group of people led by the same Insp Freeman.
“We are here to tell our father, the king that all the rumors that the Hunters in collaboration with some of the police are the brain behind the kidnapping in the town and we want them to leave our kingdom for us to have peace.
They arrest infants and pregnant women in Ekiugbo community for no just cause, they brutalized our youth chairman and one other person who they rushes either to police station or hospital.
We are calling for the dismissal of that police officer called Freeman, his son who is between 15 to 16 yrs is currently having two weeks buildings at Ekiugbo community with over four different cars that worth more than N10million each, he should be investigated.
On his part the chaIrman of Ekiugbo vigilantes, Mr Ovwigho Emmanuel said, “I was in my compound when I heard noise and I when I came out, I saw policemen that I know, one Freeman Lucky and being an officer that I know, I went to make an inquiry on what was happening.
He started pushing me away and I also observed that his colleague were threatening to shot, and as that was not enough, the Hunter guy, Makolomi came pushing me forcefully.
“Immediately I left them, they started shooting and arresting but my intention was to protect them against mob as people that we both walk together.
“After going with three arrested persons, an hour, they came to my house to arrest one of our person, Mr One Love after using battle axe on him and our youth chairman.
“I believed the police are to protect lives and properties, but these particular ones working under the Area Commander here are brutalizing people and exploit people.
Reacting to the protest, the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Dr Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III said, “I am in support of the my people because the protest is a genuine one and from there we will solve the problems that this Freeman and the Hunters are causing.
“For now we have know one of the Police Officer, Freeman who always use Hunters to batter people with battle axe, he led his group last week to arrest the kingdom vigilantes and Otovwodo Civil Defence just like what he has done yesterday at Ekiugbo community.
“That Policeman called Freeman is another problem in our Kingdom and from the was they are describing him, he is the one we know now as the judas in the kingdom
“The Hunters and Freeman are the people responsible for the activities going in our community and we cannot arrest them.”
