Organizers of the Occupy Imo Rally, the Imo Peoples Action For Democracy have accused the Nigerian Police of beating up their members during their protest in Owerri on Monday.
The group had gone on protest to express its displeasure to some of the policies of the Imo State government.
According to a statement by its co-ordinator Aku Obidinma, he said the Police descended on them,, firing tear gas and confiscated their placards.
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“We insisted that we must continue since the law did not say we needed his permission before we could embark on a peaceful protest,”
“As we continued our match, the police descended on us and started beating up the protesters, firing tear gas, confiscated our placards and manhandled even the minors amongst us.
“Today is really a sad day for our democracy. Imo state has been turned into a terror zone. Governor Rochas Okorocha is now a full-blown dictator and he has as his accomplice the Imo state police commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, who is always ready to do his dirty jobs.”
The group lamented that the police “who ought to protect peaceful protesters are the ones now used to attack law abiding citizens.”
“We wish to inform the government and the police that no amount of intimidation will make us drop our agitation for good governance in Imo state,” it said.
“We will in no distant time mobilize Imolites for a massive protest that will bring the government to its knees.
“We use this medium to call on the police authorities and the presidency to quickly redeploy the Imo state police commissioner out of Imo state as he has lost the confidence of the people of the state.”
The Imo State Police Command had before the rally warned that it never gave approval to both pro and anti government ralllies in the State especially at a period the yuletide is approaching.
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December 18, 2017
PRESS STATEMENT BY IMO PEOPLES ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY (IPAD) ON THE ATTACK BY THE POLICE DURING THEIR PEACEFUL RALLY
The Imo Peoples Action for Democracy (IPAD) wishes to inform the world that Imo State has unfortunately become a fascist state where freedom of expression and assembly is no longer guaranteed.
We say this because of the ugly incident that happened this morning where the Imo State government used the police to brutally attack peaceful protesters. We peacefully commenced our protest this morning from Wethral Road Roundabout in Owerri, Imo State, and were accosted by heavily armed policemen who demanded we stop because the commissioner of police did not approve the rally.
We insisted that we must continue since the law did not say we needed his permission before we could embark on a peaceful protest. As we continued our match, the police descended on us and started beating up the protesters, firing tear gas, confiscated our placards and manhandled even the minors amongst us.
Today is really a sad day for our democracy. Imo State has been turned into a terror zone. Governor Rochas Okorocha is now a full-blown dictator and he has as his accomplice the Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, who is always ready to do his dirty jobs. We are disturbed that the police who ought to protect peaceful protesters are the ones now used to attack law abiding citizens.
We wish to inform the government and the police that no amount of intimidation will make us drop our agitation for good governance in Imo State. We will in no distant time mobilize Imolites for a massive protest that will bring the government to its knees.
We use this medium to call on the police authorities and the Presidency to quickly redeploy the Imo State Police Commissioner out of Imo State as he has lost the confidence of the people of the state.
Signed
Aku Obidinma (Coordinator)
Marjorie Ezihe (Secretary Organizing Committee)
Chido Onumah (Member Organizing Committee)