A community in Akwa Ibom State has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, over alleged harassment and intimidation by the police.
The petition, written on behalf of the stakeholders of Ifa Ikot Akpan village, alleged that specific individuals in the
community have been using the police to arrest and detain perceived enemies.
The petitioners claimed that one Roland Etim Ben and his group have been confusing the community by using the
police negatively to settle personal scores. They alleged that Ben and his group had been arrested and detained by
the police on several occasions, but were always released due to lack of evidence.
The petitioners also accused Ben of contempt of court, alleging that he had been granted an injunction restraining
him and his members from using the police to arrest and detain anyone in the community. Despite this, Ben allegedly
continued to use the police to harass and intimidate his perceived enemies.
In response to the allegations, Roland Ben described his accusers as fraudsters who have been perpetrating evil in
the village. He claimed that he had been kidnapped and beaten by the petitioners, and that they had taken him to the
police headquarters in Ikot-Akpanabia.
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Ben also claimed that he had filed a petition against the petitioners, but that they had refused to honor the police
invitation. Instead, they had gone to court to obtain an injunction, which he claimed was not served on him or the police.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, confirmed that a court injunction is a temporary relief, and that the police would work towards vacating such order and getting the person arrested.
The petitioners urged the Commissioner of Police to investigate Ben and his group, and to take immediate action to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the peaceful village of Ifa Ikot Akpan.
The community is calling for justice and an end to the alleged harassment and intimidation by the police. They want the police to remain impartial and to protect the rights of all citizens.
Key Phrases: Akwa Ibom Community, Police Harassment
