Missing young men in Police custody

Emmanuel Alfred

Reports have it that the two young Cross Riverians earlier reported to have been missing, were arrested by the special Anti cultism/Kidnapping unit of the Nigerian Police force, Cross River State command.

An enquiry was made by reporters who pointed to the dreaded Special Police Unit, located inside the State Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar.

The duo were reportedly missing after after visiting a lady they met on a social networking site, Facebook around Ekorinim 2 in Calabar.

They were allegedly arrested on Friday last week and detained for more than three days without any trace. Their phones were also collected from them and switched off, but the Police Unit became unsettled after investigations were made into the men’s whereabouts.

The Special Security Unit had earlier denied keeping the boys when family members visited, “we visited the office of Anti cultism/Kidnapping unit on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, they kept telling us they were not here” Said a family source.

It was when we visited on Wednesday that they confirmed that the boys were with them. Yet, they did not allow us to see them. They told us they have been taken to Abuja, another person told us they have been taken to Uyo. But we know they are still with them. The sad thing is that, they have denied us access to them, neither have they told us what their offence is” said a family source.

The Anti Cultism/Kidnapping unit have been severally condemned by members of the public for indiscriminate arrest, illegal detention, extortion and consistent abuse of human rights, including torture of suspects within their detention facility.

Although the unit was originally created to tackle the incessant cult related violence and kidnappings in the state, members of the unit have since delve into areas completely unconnected with their original mandate. Complains of overindulgence of the unit in civil matters have also remain persistent.

But despite the numerous complaints, the unit have continued to operate with flagrant disregard for the rights of citizens.

Our reporter then called the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo to ask if the IGP team is in town for any assignment, “I am not aware of that matter. Someone called me to ask. I’m actually not aware” she said, dropping the call almost immediately.

We gathered that the relatives of the young men were told to bring a whooping N160,000 as bail for two of the boys, while their offence is yet to be made known to members of their family.

It is not yet clear what the security Unit intends to achieve with the unlawful detention of the boys. As at press time, family members of the Henry Agbo and Wisdom Ofri were on their way to pay the said sum.