The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD has strongly condemned the attempted arrest of a worshipper at Christ the King Cathedral (CKC) Aba, Abia State, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, said to have been unilaterally executed by one Inspector John, a police officer on illegal duty.

“Inspector John did not provide any warrant of arrest; was not uniformed and yet was said to be wielding a gun (which some unconfirmed accounts said he fired inside the church!) all in a bid to bully his way through,” FENRAD said in a statement signed by Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Head, Legal Team, Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose.

It likened the incident “to what happened at Ebem-Ohafia where ‘drunk’ off duty policemen went on illegal and unwarranted operation, leading to the death of one Friday Arunsi on Friday, April 17, 2020.”

FENRAD expressed shock over “the rate of unprofessionalism men within the rank and file exhibit especially with regards to Abia, Aba in particular.”

“What happened – quite regrettable – on that sad day inside the Catholic cathedral of Aba diocese leading to angry mob wanting to attack Inspector John if not averted could have further escalated tension and worsened police-civil relations,” the rights group said.

“FENRAD condemns, in its entirety, Inspector John’s unwarranted arrest operation and recalls that it is not yet up to one month when a policeman said to be attached to an eatery shot dead two citizens, who today is said to be ‘on the run’, somehow at large, that is.

“FENRAD demands that there be an inquiry or investigation into the foiled arrest attempted by Inspector John and if found guilty he should be made to face the law. Nobody, no matter how highly placed is above the law. If Inspector John had found himself in, say, northern part of the country, would he have unlawfully embarked on such unwarranted arrest in a central mosque?

“All FENRAD seeks is justice so that such ugly incident does not repeat itself again. Enough said, the statement said.

The rights group called on the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ms. Jane Agbede, “to take note of illegal policing in Aba and also help address same,” adding: “The use of ‘catcher’, commandeering of people’s vehicles for unlawful operations, highhandedness and sundry unprofessional conducts today characterise policing in Aba. The time for rejig is now.”

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