Journalists Arrest: It Is Uncivilized To Arrest In Lieu Of Targets – Lawyer Tells IGP

The Human Right Defenders Organization of Nigeria on Saturday said IGP Squad (Monitoring Unit) who unlawful arrested and detained five Journalists in Warri, Delta State, erred by arresting other people in lieu of their target.

He said that the IGP squad must be fished out, prosecuted, maintaining that if they are found guilty of any wrongs against the Journalists, they should be dismissed from the Police Force.

National Chairman of the Human Right Defenders Organization of Nigeria, Mr. Casely Omon-Irabor Esq who was reacting to the unlawful arrests and detention of the Journalists argued that there are no “criminal liability” by law in civilized climes.

According to the legal practitioner, “You cannot be answerable for the offence of another man. Of your brother, of your sister, of you son, of your wife. It is an individual thing because there must be an intention to commit a crime. That cannot be put on another person.

“So, when the person that commits an offence you put on another person, you’re the one committing the offence.

“There’s no way somebody could have been arrested in lieu of somebody who was linked to him just because you’re friends, family, you’re arrested. Then, the whole world would be arrested.”

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Mr. Omon-Irabor who condemned the arrests and detention of the five Journalists said,”It is so uncivilized.”

While noting that the Nigeria Police Force is not an individual thing, Mr. Omon-Irabor said,”it is an institution we all cherished. “

He warned that Police Officers must try to abhor tendencies of good behaviours.

According to him, “If few eggs misbehaves, we must show them the way out. Those men must be fished out and be tried and when they’re found guilty, they should be dismissed from the Police Force.”