Mother urges IG to probe son’s disappearance from cell

A mother, Mrs. Uche Ajuru, has urged the Inspector-General,
Ibrahim Idris, to fish out the people responsible for the missing
of her son Happiness.

The 23-year-old secondary school leaver, who was an Okada rider
in his Ndele area of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State,
was reportedly arrested at Ogbakiri junction about 5pm on September
28, 2016 by officers of Rumuji police Division for allegedly
finding the sum of N49, 000 on him.

He was subsequently detained but suddenly disappeared from the
police cell five days after.

Mrs. Ajuru spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Speaking through her lawyer, Mr. Handsome Wogu, she said: ”My
son was arrested at Ogbakiri junction and the only thing they saw
on him was N49,000 and a cell phone, which they took from him. He
was detained at Rumuji police station. When I got the information I
went there and I saw him.

“When I got there, the Investigative Police Officer in charge,
one Mr. Akpante asked me to give them some time to investigate the
arrest, which I did.

“The following day I went back to the station with one of my
brothers-in-law who is also a police officer, Mr. Ohaka, who after
talking with my son in the cell, went to see the officer in charge
of the case(Akpante), who assured him that he was investigating the
charge.

“But Okechukwu Eleonu met me and told me that I should bring
N5000 for transportation that he is close to the DPO.

“He later came back that the DPO said I should pay N60,000 to
get my son out of the cell and borrowed money and sold some of my
belongings to raise the money. When I gave him the money, I told
him that I want to go with him to see the DPO, but he said if I go
with him that the DPO will not accept that amount again.

“But after some days when my son was not released, somebody told
me that my son was no more in the cell again. When I got there, it
was true. I started asking questions; they said they didn’t know
his whereabouts. I searched in all the police stations in the
state.

“I have written the Commissioner of Police in the state on the
issue and the matter was taken to the state CID, but because I
don’t have money to pursue the matter, it was taken to zone 6 and
it was swept under the carpet.

“A boy, who was in the same cell with him, simply identified as
Wisdom later told me that he saw policemen that came in the night
and took my son from the prison, used a white cloth to cover his
face and took him away.

“The painful thing is that all the policemen and other persons
arrested in connection with this case have been granted bail and
are walking freely, when no one is ready to tell me where my son
is.

“If he is dead, they should tell me and give me his corpse.

“I am calling on the IGP to give ears to my cry and give me
justice in this matter. They want to use the advantage that I am
poor against me.”

A mother, Mrs. Uche Ajuru, has urged the Inspector-General,
Ibrahim Idris, to fish out the people responsible for the missing
of her son Happiness.

The 23-year-old secondary school leaver, who was an Okada rider
in his Ndele area of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State,
was reportedly arrested at Ogbakiri junction about 5pm on September
28, 2016 by officers of Rumuji police Division for allegedly
finding the sum of N49, 000 on him.

He was subsequently detained but suddenly disappeared from the
police cell five days after.

Mrs. Ajuru spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Speaking through her lawyer, Mr. Handsome Wogu, she said: ”My
son was arrested at Ogbakiri junction and the only thing they saw
on him was N49,000 and a cell phone, which they took from him. He
was detained at Rumuji police station. When I got the information I
went there and I saw him.

“When I got there, the Investigative Police Officer in charge,
one Mr. Akpante asked me to give them some time to investigate the
arrest, which I did.

“The following day I went back to the station with one of my
brothers-in-law who is also a police officer, Mr. Ohaka, who after
talking with my son in the cell, went to see the officer in charge
of the case(Akpante), who assured him that he was investigating the
charge.

“But Okechukwu Eleonu met me and told me that I should bring
N5000 for transportation that he is close to the DPO.

“He later came back that the DPO said I should pay N60,000 to
get my son out of the cell and borrowed money and sold some of my
belongings to raise the money. When I gave him the money, I told
him that I want to go with him to see the DPO, but he said if I go
with him that the DPO will not accept that amount again.

“But after some days when my son was not released, somebody told
me that my son was no more in the cell again. When I got there, it
was true. I started asking questions; they said they didn’t know
his whereabouts. I searched in all the police stations in the
state.

“I have written the Commissioner of Police in the state on the
issue and the matter was taken to the state CID, but because I
don’t have money to pursue the matter, it was taken to zone 6 and
it was swept under the carpet.

“A boy, who was in the same cell with him, simply identified as
Wisdom later told me that he saw policemen that came in the night
and took my son from the prison, used a white cloth to cover his
face and took him away.

“The painful thing is that all the policemen and other persons
arrested in connection with this case have been granted bail and
are walking freely, when no one is ready to tell me where my son
is.

“If he is dead, they should tell me and give me his corpse.

“I am calling on the IGP to give ears to my cry and give me
justice in this matter. They want to use the advantage that I am
poor against me.”