The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mr. Chris Ezike, has ordered the immediate release of a young boy, Kelechi Agoha, who was illegally detained by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the state Police Command.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday in Owerri by a popular activist, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, officers of the squad led by the Commander and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), one Mr. Uche illegally detained Master Agoha “for two weeks due to his inability to raise the sum of N30,000 for his bail, even though bail is free.”

Iwuoha claimed to have sent a petition to the Police Commissioner and the letter was simultaneously made public and copied different authorities in the country. His petition was said to have attracted wide condemnation from readers who also demanded severe punishment for the Commander of SARS and his IPO.

Iwuoha said, “The letter reportedly got to the CP’s Office on time yesterday (19th June, 2017) but his attention was not drawn to it. He rather read his letter on the Internet around 8pm and was shocked with its contents. The CP reportedly called the Commander on phone and expressed his displeasure over his ungodly and criminal conduct of detaining an innocent boy who committed no crime whatsoever. The CP reportedly ordered the Commander to release Kelechi Agoha without further delay, and to report to his office for explanation for his wicked action.

“The Commander who was obviously afraid for the disciplinary action he was to face quickly called the IPO and gave him the marching order to head straight to the SARS office that night. At the SARS Office, both the Commander and the IPO brought out Kelechi Agoha from his cell and quickly asked him to dress up. The time was 9:14pm. Also, they called Kelechi Agoha’s father (Mr. John Agoha) on phone to come to the station to pick his son. But Mr. John Agoha informed the Commander and the IPO that he would not make it, as it was night and risky for him to do so.

The Commander, obviously aware that he was in trouble and so desperate to cover his dirty and useless tracks, forced Master Kelechi Agoha out of the Police Command, after giving him the sum of N500 for his transport fare. He told Kelechi to find his way home. Not satisfied with his release of Kelechi Agoha, the Commander and IPO in the unfolding drama also released six other illegal detainees. He gave them N500 each and led them to the security gate of the Imo State Police Command and pushed them out, asking them to find their ways. The time was about 9.50pm.

“The boy’s Father (Mr. John Agoha) called me last night and briefed me on the development. I instructed him to report to my house this morning with his son, Kelechi. At 8:35am this morning, Mr. John Agoha and his son Kelechi came to my house and briefed me properly on what happened at the SARS office last night. We snapped pictures and thanked Almighty God for his mercies.”

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