By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A rights group, the Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation, has issued a forty-eight hours ultimatum to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to look into the murder of a transporter who was allegedly killed by operatives of the Rivers State Taskforce on Street Trading and Illegal Motor Parks/Road Congestion.

It urged the governor to swing into action from the date of receipt of the letter by investigating the proprietary or otherwise the conduct of those operatives involved in the dastardly act and device a means on how the family of the deceased can be pacified.

The letter whichh was signed by Justine Ijeomah, Joseph C. Asawabelem, Esq, Executive Director noted that failure to comply with the demands will leave it with no other option than to seek relieve from the court of law as soon as possible.

It reminded Wike that the deceased left behind his wife and five children who are currently distraught and suffering the painful exit of a husband, father and bread-winner.

The letter reads: “We have been consulted and our humanitarian services retained by Mrs. Simon Ihuarulam, whom we shall hereinafter refer to as “Our Complainant” and on her specific instruction we are obliged to write you sir.

“Our Complainant is a law abiding and responsible citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose husband earn his living and that of his family through commercial bus business.

“That in the morning of Sunday, being the 12^th day of March, 2023 he was about his bus business as usual around Rumuokoro axis, when operatives of the Rivers state taskforce on street trading and illegal motor parks/road congestion as led by the head of the Rumuokoro team forcefully removed his bus battery and pulled out the valve of his tire and took the battery to their office opposite Emmanuel Anglican Church at Rumuokoro.

“It is the complainant’s brief that when her husband went to the office of the taskforce operatives to demand for the battery and inquire to know his offence; that some of the operatives of the taskforce pounced on him and beat-him-up on the grounds that he had the confidence to come and demand for his battery. It was in course of beating her husband that he collapsed and lost consciousness.

“That when the operatives saw that our complainant had collapsed they rushed him to a near-by hospital for treatment. But due to the critical state her husband the said hospital referred them to the University Teaching Hospital Uniport for treatment. That it was while her husband was admitted in the hospital that he finally entered comer with oxygen administered on him.

“That few hours later her husband died due to complications from the injuries inflicted on him as a result of the torture and maltreatment he received from the operatives under your control. There were injuries on his head and entire body which shows that he body was battered with dangerous weapons.

“That the co-members of the deceased’s transport association began protest immediately and short down all transport activities on the said day which crippled commercial activities.”

The letter further stated that the issue is within the public domain and was broadcasted by conventional and unconventional media house in the state, adding that to calm the situation, the matter was immediately reported to the Special Area Divisional Police Headquarters at Rumuokoro, Rivers State and later transferred to the homicide department at State Criminal Intelligence Investigative Department (SCIID) Rivers State Police Compound.

The Port Harcourt based Human Rights group said that the members of the deceased’s bus drivers association are still demanding for justice to be done as they are very ready to continue with the protest until justice is served in the matter.

The letter which was copied the inspector General of Police, IGP, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, National Human Rights Commission among others added: “They also issued a four day ultimatum against the State Government to do something about the welfare and upkeep of their deceased member and immediate family or face further protest. All these are within the public domain.

“Note that you have forty-eight hours from the date of your receipt of this letter to investigate the proprietary or otherwise of the conduct of these operatives involved in these dastardly acts and devise means on how the young family the deceased left who are currently distraught and not being catered for as a result of his gruesome murder.

“Note that the deceased left behind his wife and five children who are now suffering the painful exit of a husband, father and bread-winner.

“Further note that failure to comply with these demands will leave us with no other option than to seek relieve from the court of law as soon as possible.”

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