Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Department of State Service (DSS) has been accused of illegally arresting and detaining 24 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) since last year.
One of IPOB’s lawyer, Mr. Nnaemeka Ejiofor, who made the allegations called on the federal government to either release the detainees unconditionally or charge them to court.
According to Ejiofor, the detainees who have been languishing in various cells of the DSS, were picked up in various states in the south east.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, Ejiofor alleged that all efforts to locate and interface with the detained IPOB members have been rebuffed by the authorities of the security agency.
To worsen the situation for families of the detainees, the counsel alleged that the military authorities and that of the DSS believed to be responsible for the ordeal of his clients have been making conflicting and confusing information on the whereabouts of the people.
He said while the DSS claimed that the detainees were in the military custody, the army authorities sworn to affidavit in the High Court to the effect that no members of IPOB was in their custody.
Those alleged to have been hauled into unknown detention facilities according to him are Ikechukwu Henry, Joy Udoh, Emeka Ngomadi, Pius Awoke, Chinedum Nwoha,Igwe Dike, Ogbonna Ajah, Kingsley Onovu, Ogbonna Ojima and Fortune Okerie.
Others are Joseph Eze, Emmanuel Chinonso, Uket Godwin,Ogbonna Ndubusi, Eze Chukwuemeka, Ibeleme Torchukwu, Emmanuel Ike, Reverend Cletus Egole, Pastor Phillip Egole, Chinonso Anyanwu, Kelechi Okeke, Godspower Chilemu and Chukwuma Nwaokike.
Ejiofor who accused the DSS of flagrant breach of fundamental rights of the detainees, lamented that most of them, especially the clergymen, were innocent but were unlawfully arrested in their various churches.
He also alleged that others were picked up in the nights thereby making it difficult for their families to ascertain the identities of the security operatives.
He pleaded with DSS authorities to arraign the detainees in law courts if they have committed any known offence instead of keeping them in unknown detention camps in breach of the 1999 Constitution.
“At a point, we were told that they have been moved to a Military Camp in Kainji where Boko Haram terrorists are being kept, but unfortunately, all findings on our parts yielded no fruitful results.
“As I am addressing you, I can confirm to you that since 2021, when my clients were unlawfully arrested, no one has been allowed to see or access them. Our security should do their work diligently and in line with provisions of the law.
“We are not in Banana republic. We are in democratic era and everything we are doing, including our security agencies, must be in tune with our laws,” he said.
At the media briefing attended by wives, children and relatives of those allegedly detained, the counsel pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the plights of his clients by ordering security agencies to file criminal charges against them in law court so as to protect the sanctity of human rights.
