By Chuks Uzochukwu
Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Ugochukwu Alinnor has described the alleged assault, humiliation and torture being incessantly meted out on his colleagues by police and other security operatives in the state, as alarming, worrisome and regrettable.
Speaking at the special court session held last Friday in honour of Late Magistrate Nnaemeka Chinonye Ugboma, who was gruesomely murdered by suspected assailants while presiding over court session, Barr. Alinnor accused security operatives in the state of pursuing personal gains over their primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.
According to him, "rather than tackle the insecurity situation ravaging the State with the required measure of attention, the police and some other security outfits in the State have chosen to resort to all manner of inhuman and degrading treatments meted out on innocent citizens."
He said, "Regrettably, the Bar has had her own alarming share of such unfortunate treatments as members of the bar have now become subjects of unlawful arrests, torture, detention, harassment and intimidation all over the State.
"The Bar is embittered by these atrocious treatments which its members are subjected to and condemn it in the strongest terms.
"The recent arrest, detention and toture of our colleague, Chigozie Chinaka Esq. by ACP David Ogenyi, Area Commander, Owerri Municipal and his cohorts, is unbelievably dehumanizing and ought to be questioned by the top hierarchy of the police and government.
"We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police and other concerned authorities to leave no stone unturned in this regard."
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And on the prevailing spate of insecurity in the state, the Owerri NBA boss said, "the need to prioritize the security of lives and property cannot be overemphasized and I urge our leaders at all levels of governance in Nigeria to do the needful in checking the rising spate of insecurity in Imo State and Nigeria at large, which has taken a very alarming dimension.
"In fact, insecurity has become the new normal and untimely death in the hands of armed criminals the order of the day in Nigeria. The loss of His Worship Late Nnaemeka Chinonye Ugboma lays emphasis on the security gaps which endanger our judiciary, the judicial officers and staff in the line of duty.
"Hence, we beckon on the Government of Imo State and that of the Federation, as we mourn the death of His Worship Nnaemeka Chinonye Ugboma, to reconsider the security measures and architecture currently in place so as to forestall further eventuality."
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