Delta Community Leader Kicks Over Arrest For Alleged Kidnapping

–Issues IGP 3 Weeks Ultimatum To  Commence Investigation

By Omonigho Odens

The Chairman of Okere-Urhobo Development Movement, Comrade Cyril Eboh, today issued the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Khoutoun Idris three weeks ultimatum to commence investigation into his unlawful arrest and humilitation by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force from the Warri Area Command.

Eboh handed down the ultimatum in a chat with Oasis Magazine in Warri, Delta State.

Eboh threatened to drag the IGP and the entire police force to Court if he fails to comply with its ultimatum.

Eboh claimed he was arrested and humiliated by the police on accounts of alleged kidnapping at about 7p.m. on Wednesday.

The Community leader denied the kidnap allegations levelled against him.

Narrating how he was arrested, Eboh said the Chief Whip came with a twenty one year old boy, Gabriel Eruanovwe, to the Secretariat at about 8:30p.m.

He said the boy was tied beside the secretariat with the premises crowded.

According to Eboh, “I demanded to know what was happening. They said there was a lady, Grace Onowakpor who gave the young man N90, 000 to help deposit in her bank account within the hours of 3 and 4p.m, but the boy absconded with the money.

Eboh said Onowakpor who later became suspicious of the boy’s movement trailed him to the bank but could not fnd him.

Eboh said Onowakpor waited till 8pm in the evening before reporting the matter to the boy’s mother who confirmed he (Gabriel) could not be trusted with money.

The boy’s mother joined the girl in search of Gabriel but could not find him until the Chief Whip caught and dragged him to the Secretariat.

In his words, “They searched the boy and saw N60, 000 in his pocket out of the N90, 000 that was given to him.

“The boy’s elder brother and the youths joined in flogging the boy. Five minutes, after, three vans heavily loaded with armed policemen came in.

“Seeing the policemen, I demanded to know what their mission was and they said they are looking for the youth president and I replied I am the person.

“They told me that the Area Commander said they should bring me. I requested to go with them with my car but they refused. I said if I cannot go with my car, let me go with my cousin’s car but they also refused.

“My Exco were around but I said let me go with them. So, I.joined them inside their van. On our way going, my brother called me. He said, hope they said the Area Commander said they should bring you? I said Yes! He later said, the Area Commander to told him, he did not send anybody when he called him on phone.

“While inside the vehicle with the Area Commander, I called him but he didn’t pick my calls. I joined them to the Area Command.

“Getting there, the whole place was dark and they pushed me in. They started threatening to kill me if I say anything.

“One of them said the criminal is holding handset and they collected it from me and switched it off. Before they took my phone from me, I had already called my lawyer.

“While I was inside there, people of my community, chiefs , my cousins, they came to the Area Command and when they saw the way the people trooped in, they decided to take me back to ” B” Division where they put me behind counter.

“While I was there, the DPO, CSP George Efeizomor came in and when he saw me, he asked what the matter was and said I should come out of the counter. They put the Chief Whip behind the counter who later explained the matter to him. They said we should return this morning.”

“The father of the boy, Mr. Edwin Eruanovwe said his son had committed a similar crime once in time past.

“The lady who gave the boy the money to deposit in the bank, Grace Onowakpor said,”Out of the ninety thousand naira I gave him, we only saw sixty three thousand five hundred naira with him.”