How Soldiers Manhandled, Handcuffed Galaxy TV Journalist As Police Abort Hunger Protest In Delta

.. Arrested activist, journalist recount ordeal

Soldiers from the Nigerian Army 3 Battalion in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta, on Friday, pounced on South-South Bureau Chief of Galaxy Television, Mr. Dele Fasan, arresting him with handcuffed for daring to cover the planned protest against the economic hardship in the Country.

The soldiers allegedly brutalized and hit the journalist with the butt of their guns at the DSC roundabout in Effurun.

He was seriously manhandled to the point that his cameraman fled the scene from being arrested.

Mr. Fasan was arrested in the presence of the police, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Operations, Aina Adesola.

Fasan was however released after the Police boss and his colleagues from Independent Television & Radio, Mr. Gbenga Ahmed and Mr. Matthew Omonigho, DAILY POST Correspondent intervened and appealed to the Army Commander, Major AE Ohegbe to ordered his release and the handcuff pulled off.

Also at the scene, the soldiers also whisked a human rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe to the barracks for reasons yet to be fathom after a rift between him and other human right activists, Kelvin Ejumudo and others.

Advertisement

Galaxy Television South-South Bureau Chief, Mr. Dele Fasan who confirmed his arrest, said that he was trying to get video clips of the protest scene which was already taken over by Security Operatives when the overzealous soldiers accosted and manhandled him despite identifying himself by bring out his identity card which he showed to them.

Mr. Fasan commended the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Aina Adesola who promptly intervened in the matter.

According to him, “The military were not civil at all during the protest. But the Police led by DCP Aina Adesola, the Navy, the DSS and NSCDC operatives were civil as they all intervened and he was released.”

Mr. Fasan said that the Army Commander, Major Ahegbe later apologized to him pointing out that the ugly act had already been done.

National Secretary of Human Right Protection Congres⁸s, Comrade Kelvin Ejumudo said the Civil Society Organisations,CSO’s came out to ensure that the protest did not hold following the threat across the nation.
“We don’t want any protest at all because when it happens, people will loose their properties. People will loose their monies.”

He noted that while they were at the protest venue, “We have the proponent (Israel Joe) of the protest for selfish reasons came here and we had a one on one rift and he had been taken away by security operatives.”

Advertisement

He said, “I will not condone any idea of protest in this state because at the moment, Nigeria is volatile.”

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the thirty six(36) State Governors with the local government chairmen to as a matter of urgency tackle the hunger in the land.

“Nigerians don’t want food. We want employment, we want our refineries to be functional, we want to produce what we can sell.”

The Chairman Board of Trustees of Citizens Rights Enhancement Initiative, Comrade Edewor Egedegbe in a chat with newsmen commended the security operatives in their approach at managing the situation in the Country.

While noting that there’s hunger in the land, Egedegbe, a cleric said,”you cannot cure hunger with further inflicting harm on innocent citizens.”

According to him,”What the Police, the military have done to ensure that there’s no breakdown of law and order is very much in order.

Advertisement

“For some of us, we have said the time is not ripe for any protest that can snowball not a major crisis.

“There’s a crisis of hunger already and the government are slowing their best. Although, we believe that their best is not good enough. We are asking them I do more because there’s truly hunger in the land. For the law enforcement agents o ensure very well. Those who wanted to protest have also gone back.”

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Aina Adesola said he was sent to the scene by the Commissioner of Police to maintain peace.

While noting that everywhere is peaceful, DCP Adesola said citizens are going about their normal businesses without any hindrances.

“There’s no problem. Residents should come out enmass and to their different place of work. Nobody will molest them.

“The civil societies, they’ve rallied round the police and the Army. We are on ground and there’s no problem.”

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Delta state police command and other security operatives, aborted what could have been the mother of all hunger protests at Effurun, in Uvwie local government area of the state.

Human rights activist in Delta State, Comrade Israel Joe has alleged that the Police are making plans to charge him for “terrorism.”

According to him,” Am in detention. They want to charge me for terrorism. Soldiers handed me over to Police that I am instigating protests. Am in detention. I can’t talk for long.”

It would be recalled that Comrade Joe was picked up by soldiers at DSC roundabout in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government during a planned protest against the current hardship in the nation. He was subsequently handed over to the police.

His arrest came shortly after the South-South Bureau Chief of Galaxy Television, Mr. Dele Fasan was also arrested by the soldiers at the same venue in the morning.

When contacted for comments, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe said Comrade Israel Joe was not arrested.

Advertisement

The Police image maker explained that there were disagreement between Joe and other human right activists at the venue.

According to him,”They were assaulting him. The soldiers only rescued him from their hands. So, it’s not an arrest.”

But in a statement after his release, Isreal Joe, said that he was arrested at about 8:30am, by the Nigerian Army at DSC Roundabout.

According to him, “Some comrades who are state agents and anti-people in their operations had liase with the government to disrupt the protest even after having resolutions to step it down.

“Acclaimed comrades in the likes of one Ejumudo, Akima, Tega Tracy, Pst Egedegbe and others who were alleged to have collected huge sum of monies from the government to stop the protest attacked us in the presence of the security agents as planned.

“The police had resolved the issue before the military men came to ask who is Comr. Joe. They held one of my comrades Pemu Unurocheo and myself.

Advertisement

“In a commando style with convoy and siren as if Evans the kidnapper has been arrested, they moved us to the Army Barracks where we were shortly detained at the military guardroom.

After some time, the commander came to interrrogate us and I was happy they all were aware that there was hardship in the country. He then said he would be taking us back to the Nigeria Police Force.

“Again, they moved us in siren and convoy with full Air-condition to DSC Roundabout where they handed us over to the police. The police told me that I’m under arrest and would be charged for tęrrøríṣm.

“They took me alone in their vehicle straight to the Ekpan Police station where I was quizzed, interrogated again by the DCO and my statement was obtained.

“In the magnanimity of the Commisioner of Police of the Delta State Command along with the DPO who saw the truth, upon which the hungry and haggard looking comrades framed up, they had to release me.

“The question is how much were these hungry, poverty stricken looking comrades paid to sell out, in the guise that Israel Joe is not a Deltan by tribe but, only a born Deltan.

Advertisement

“Who is even scared of Police cell or prison in the first place. I’m a stubborn non conformist that would stop at nothing until our society gets better. We are not distracted by these antics of these Christians, but, surely, posterity owes us all”.