Umahi runs secret detention centres against perceived Opponents, PDP alleges

…..calls for investigations

 

By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi

 

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Ebonyi state chapter has raised alarm over the establishment of detention centers across the state operated by the Governor David Umahi’s led administration and called on  security agencies to investigate.

This was contained in a communique signed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim and 35 other stakeholders of the party after their meeting in Abakaliki alleged that the state government has covertly been operating the centers to detain kidnapped political opponents, kill, maime and torture them.

It reads in parts; “it has come to our knowledge that the Ebonyi State Government has covertly established special detention centers in the state, where kidnapped political opponents are kept and tortured in the name of “interrogation”.

“The recent case of journalist Prince Anyigor Methuselah easily comes to mind. As confessed by Prince Anyigor himself, he was abducted by agents of the Ebonyi State Government, kept in an underground detention facility, and forced against his will to type and send messages with his phone supposedly professing support for the State Government.

“Worthy of mention also is the kidnap and torture of Barr. Amos Ogbonna by agents of Ebonyi State Government. Barr Ogbonna, who has been lying critically ill in the hospital until recent, escaped being buried alive in a hurriedly dug shallow grave by special divine intervention. He is now using crutches and is scheduled for more surgeries in the near future, even as he continues to frequent the hospital for regular check-ups and medication.

“ We call on the security agencies to investigate the secret detention centers set up by the Ebonyi State Government, and release the dying occupants immediately to re-join their families and loved ones. We also call on the relevant security agencies to investigate the following crimes:

The party said that the creation of Ebubeagu Security outfit by the government, has increased persecution of political opponents in the state adding that its members and supporters have continuously been attacked.

“What is most worrisome about the Ebonyi variant of Ebubeagu is that the recruitment, deployment and rules of engagement, including their command structure, is shrouded in secrecy. It is difficult, therefore, to hold them accountable for their crimes. What is more dangerous is the fact that since they operate in mufti, it is difficult to separate their activities from that of unknown gunmen and other criminals”, it said..

Reacting to the allegations by the PDP stakeholders, the APC caretaker chairman and Commissioner for Security in the state, Stanley Okoro-emegha, described PDP as an attention-seeking party without agenda for the people.

He said, “These people are just looking for attention. Sam Egwu is doing nothing, he is idle and doesn’t know why Ebonyi North people voted him to represent them.

“Since he doesn’t know why he was voted into power and then thinks that I will come and be joining issues with him, I cannot because I am busy doing a lot of things to make sure that the state is secured.” he said.

 

Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Ogbuatu Simbad, in a statement described the accusation as a figment of the imagination of the PDP.

The statement reads “On abduction, operation of detention camps as alleged against the Ebonyi State Government, we make bold to say that these are part of their orchestrated ploy to make good their many threats against Governor Umahi for defecting to APC.

“On the Ebubeagu Security Outfit which was collectively agreed upon for creation by Southeast Governors at the peak of insecurity in the area and which the same PDP stakeholders endorsed in a communique issued after an enlarged Southeast elders and stakeholders security meeting held in Enugu, these same PDP Stakeholders have not been comfortable with the Ebonyi State chapter of the outfit following the impressive efforts of the outfit in assisting security agencies in curtailing insecurity in the area.

“One wonders why? It is simple; the possibility that Ebubeagu has succeeded in emasculating the evil plans of these PDP Stakeholders hence their incessant complaints about the outfit, cannot be ruled out”.

“The truth is that these PDP Stakeholders had wished that the entire Ebonyi State went up in uncontrollable conflagration in line with their threats to deal with and make the Governor regret his action of defecting to the APC.

“But they are frustrated by their failures to achieve this evil agenda, hence their vicious propaganda against Ebubeagu for checkmating them by complimenting the efforts of other security agencies in returning peace to Ebonyi State,” Simbad said.

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