Forum petitions Police Service Commission’s Chairman over Evwreni Killings, accuses Delta CP, DPO of bias

The Evwreni Elite Forum (EEF) has accused Delta State Police Commissioner, Hafiz Inuwa and the Divisional Police Officer, ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, Mr. Kelvin Zuokumor of been biased in the handling of the Evwerni crisis which has lead to the death of two young men in recent time.

The Evwreni Elite Forum in the petition to the Chairman of Police Service Commission signed by their Counsel, A. A. Mumakai-Unagha, stated that the CP, Delta State and the DPO ‘A’ Division, Ughelli have compromised in their professional duty in the ongoing crisis in Evwreni, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Forum decried the police inability to neb the crisis in the bud, adding that despite the several killings allegedly orchestrated by the Monarch’s led vigilante group, the CP and the DPO have not made any arrest and not prepared to make arrest upon which they present this petition.

“The several killings going on in the community by the vigilante group, reported to the State Police Authority, there is a speculation that the police command has gone into alliance with the Ovie and some faceless people in the community blocking arrest of criminals.

“For the avoidance of doubt, one Mr. Omoghene was brutally murdered in cold blood, his corpse taken away, till date his corpse has not been found and no action taken either by the DPO or the CP. Again one Marcus Uba was attacked, shot severally by the vigilante group, the matter was also reported to the DPO but no steps was taken by the police and today those involved are moving freely in the street of the community.

“The State CP sometime ago directed the DPO to mop up arms in possession of the vigilante group, the DPO deliberately refused to carry out the directives leading built up arms which the Monarch and his group allegedly uses at will on the people.

It noted that on June 20, 2020, the Former Executive Director Projects Engr. Sam Adjogbe was attacked by the Evwreni Vigilante Group along the East West road, a few kilometers to the Community and the matter was reported to the DPO but no arrest was made even when there was a confessional statement by some of the vigilante.

It added that as they put up this petition neither the CP nor the DPO have taken steps to address the Evwreni crisis as they were reliably informed that they have been compromised. “Whilst the dust of killings by the vigilante is been covered up by the police in the area, the vigilante attacked and killed a 34 years old Sylvester Adjogbe in a broad daylight whose corpse is now deposited in the mortuary.”

EEF stressed in the petition that there was growing speculation that the DPO gives advance information to the Ovie and his vigilante prior to any arrest of suspects leading to their escape.

The petition urged the Chairman of Police Service Commission to carry out full scale investigation into the complains against the CP and the DPO who appears clearly to have been backing the Evwreni vigilante group.

When the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Hafiz Inuwa was contacted by our correspondent, he denied the allegations, saying he challenge any of the parties to come with proof that he compromised in his line of duty.

He said: “Is it because we failed to be bought over? Nobody can use us to commit or perpetuate mayhem. Nigeria Police Force has outgrown that.”

 

ATTACHED COPY OF PETTITION:

 

The Chairman,

Police Service Commission,

Federal Secretariat,

Abuja, Nigeria.

 

Sir,

COMPROMISING IN THE LINE OF PROFESSIONAL DUTY BY THE DELTA STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MR. HAFIZ INUWA AND THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER IN UGHELLI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MR. KELVIN ZUOKUMOR: A CALL FOR REDRESS

We are firm of Legal Practitioners and Consultants and our professional services has been retained by the Evwreni Elites Forum (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), on whose instruction we write you this letter. If this letter shall be called a petition, it is for the wants of a better title and for the Police Service Commission’s urgent intervention.

Our client, a reputable and socially responsible Organization in Evwreni, through its accredited executives reliably informed us of following incontrovertible facts and same reproduced hereunder for ease of reference:

1. That the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command and the Divisional Police Officer Mr. Kelvin Zuokumor have compromised in their professional duty in the crisis blowing in Evwreni, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

 

2. That despite the several killings by the Ovie of Evwreni His Royal Highness Oghenekevwe led vigilante group, the State Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police Officer have not made any arrest and not prepared to make arrest upon which we present this petition.

 

3. That the several killings going on in the community by the vigilante group, reported to the State Police Authority, there is a speculation that the police command has gone into alliance with the Ovie and some faceless people in the community blocking arrest of criminals.

 

4. For the avoidance of doubt, one Mr. Omoghene was brutally murdered in a cold blood, his corpse taken away, till date his corpse has not been found and no action taken either by the Divisional Police Officer or the Commissioner of Police.

 

5. Again one Marcus Uba was attacked, shot severally by the vigilante group, the matter was also reported to the Divisional Police Officer, no steps was taken by the police and today those involved are moving freely in the street of the community.

 

6. The State Commissioner of Police some ago directed the Divisional Police Officer to mop up arms in possession of the vigilante group, the Divisional Police Officer Mr. Kelvin Zuokumor deliberately refused to carry out the directives leading built up arms which the Ovie and his group uses at will on the people.

 

7. On June 20^th 2020, the Former Executive Director Projects Engr. Sam Adjogbe was attacked by the Evwreni Vigilante Group along the East West road, a few kilometers to the Community, the matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer, no arrest was made even when there was a confessional statement by some of the vigilante.

 

8. As we put up this petition neither the State Commissioner of Police nor the Divisional Police Officer have taken steps to address the Evwreni crisis as we are reliably informed that they have been compromised.

 

9. Whilst the dust of killings by the vigilante is been covered up by the police in the area, the vigilante attacked and killed a 34 years old Sylvester Adjogbe in a broad daylight whose corpse is now deposited in mortuary.

 

10. There is growing speculation that the Divisional Police Officer is in synergy with the Ovie and the vigilante backed by the police State Police Command.

 

11. We are reliably been informed that the, the Divisional Police Officer gives advance information to the Ovie and his vigilante prior to any arrest of suspects leading to their escape.

It is against the backdrop of the above, we have been instructed to lodge this complaint to your office with a view to carrying out a full scale investigation into these complaints against the State Commissioner of Police and Divisional Police Officer who appears clearly to have the backing the Evwreni vigilante group. We are also calling for their immediate transfer to avoid more damage not to only the community, the Local Government and the State in general.

Find attached copies of the following;

1. Petition to the Inspector General of Police
2. Letter to the Commissioner of Police:

 

Yours faithfully,

 

1. A. Mumakai-Unagha

Principal Counsel

 

1. Minister of Police Affairs

Federal Secretariat, Abuja

 

2. The Inspector General of Police,

Force Headquarters, Abuja.

 

3. The National Security Adviser