The Civil Liberties Organization has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Monitoring Unit, Abuja over the arrest and torture of five members of the Bayelsa Indigenous Tricycle Riders Association by the Puff Adder unit of the Police in Yenagoa Bayelsa State.
In the petition dated November 18, 2021, and signed by Chairman of the CLO in Bayelsa State, Alabo Nengi James, it was alleged that when the group started its activities by way of collecting membership daily dues, they were confronted by three national unions, TOAN, RTEAN AND NUTRW who petitioned them to the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the petition, they reported at the DSS office and explained themselves, and were also invited at the State CIID Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The CLO explained that they were again invited by the Puff Adder unit of the Police, in Yenagoa Bayelsa State, who arrested five (5) members of the Association.
Operatives of the Puff Adder then alleged that the arrested members were allegedly engaged in selling their association’s tickets.
According to CLO’s findings, out of the five persons arrested by the police, three are females while two are males. It was learnt that the two females have since been released while one female and two males are still in detention.
The CLO alleged that the detainees were asked to roll on the ground with water poured on them as they were severely beaten and tortured. The CLO said according to its findings, they are still under detention.
However, when contacted the Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed that they have arrested members of the Bayelsa State Indigenous Tricycle Riders Association for allegedly selling tickets and collecting revenue from tricycle riders in the State.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, the command said “preliminary findings revealed that the suspects were arrested in possession of tickets, which they allegedly sold to Keke riders, even though they were not authorised to do so by the State Government.
“The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, Ben Nebolisa Okolo, has ordered for discreet Investigation into the allegation by the Civil Liberty Organisation, Bayelsa State Chapter, that the suspects who are members of the Bayelsa Indigenous Tricycle Riders Association were tortured. The investigation is ongoing.”
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