By BONIFACE AKARAH

The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has raised the alarm over what it described as the repeated harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of leaders of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market in Onitsha, petitioning the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene in what it insisted is a civil dispute that has been criminalised.

The rights group alleged that the ongoing property dispute involving Modebe Enterprises Limited and the Ozomagana Building Materials Market Association had been turned into a channel for intimidation, warning that the continued use of police officers to intervene in the matter was escalating tensions instead of resolving the crisis.

In the petition, Intersociety said it was "deeply disturbed by the dangerous criminalisation of a purely civil matter," adding that the situation had resulted in "series of arbitrary police arrests, unlawful detentions and acts of intimidation."

According to the organisation, the dispute centres on the implementation of a lease agreement between Modebe Enterprises Limited and the market association over several properties on Modebe Avenue, Onitsha.

The group, however, argued that disagreements arising from the agreement ought to be resolved through lawful civil processes rather than police action.

It alleged that officers attached to the IGP's Special Investigation Unit in Abuja had repeatedly arrested and detained market leaders under the guise of investigating alleged threats to life.

"The matter has become a conduit pipe for intimidation and extortion by some senior police officers from the IGP's Special Investigation Unit and their subordinates," the organisation alleged.

It added: "The crisis has led to repeated police harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and criminalisation of what is circumstantially a civil matter."

Intersociety claimed that since November 15, 2025, more than six separate arrests had been carried out against leaders of the market.

It specifically named former Chairman of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market, Obiora Okoro, alongside Ikechukwu Aneke, a former Assistant Secretary, and Chigozie Ejiofor, a former Treasurer, as among those allegedly arrested and detained.

The organisation further alleged that some of those arrested were subjected to unlawful detention and possible custodial extortion.

According to the group, "court cases have arisen and pronouncements made by a Nnewi High Court in April 2026 have allegedly been flouted with impunity."

It warned that the continued use of law enforcement agencies in the dispute could undermine confidence in the justice system.

"The poor handling of the issue has led to denials and counter-denials associated with the lease agreement and its implementation, to the extent that criminalisation and harvest of extortion have been brought into it and escalated," Intersociety stated.

The organisation urged the Inspector-General of Police to immediately review the actions of officers involved in the matter and prevent further arrests over what it described as a commercial disagreement.

It maintained that the dispute should be allowed to run its course through the courts rather than through police intervention.

"Using allegations of threats to life as a pretext to repeatedly arrest and detain parties in a civil dispute only worsens the crisis and deepens public distrust," the group said.

Intersociety also appealed to relevant authorities to ensure that all parties involved respect ongoing judicial proceedings and seek lawful means of resolving the conflict.

The organisation reiterated that "justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done," warning that continued intimidation of market leaders could further heighten tension within the commercial community in Onitsha.

It called for an end to what it described as the misuse of security agencies in private disputes, insisting that the rule of law must prevail.