Nnamdi
Iheagwaram
Barely four weeks after the National
Association of Nigerian trader inaugurated the state chapter of its association
with a view to checkmating the excesses of uniformed men on traders, some
overzealous prison officers have manhandled some innocent traders who deal on telephone
accessories along Okigwe Road, adjacent to the building that was housing Imo
state Stock Exchange and Imo State Investment and Promotion Agency.
Nigerian Hotline gathered that the traders
whose names were given as Sunday Ngwu, Michael Ude and Isaac Onu were manhandled
and beaten to stupor by some armed men identified as members of the Prisons
Armed Squad led by an officer identified “Ambush commander”. According to
sources the traders sustained injuries as a result of the incident and are
presently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre. Narrating his
ordeal to newsmen Mr. Isaac Onu said the man identified as “Ambush commander”
usually comes to buy phone accessories from him, pointing out that the bone of
contention was that the Wife of “Ambush commander” brought a phone to him to
buy the phone on the directions of the husband.
He alleged that they settled at the price of N2,000 and he gave her N1,500 as deposit, promising to pay the
balance of N500 later, only to discover
that the phone was faulty and immediately he sent a message to “Ambush
commander” to that effect but was surprised to note that “Ambush commander” insisted
that he must pay the balance, threatening to deal with him if he failed to pay.
Continuing, Mr. Onu expressed shock that the
said “Ambush commander” carried out his threat and unleashed an attack on him
and some of his colleagues with five of his men, stressing that they applied
the use of maximum force and even handcuffed him pointing out that in the
course of this melle, his wares and those of his colleagues were destroyed. Corroborating
Onu’s story, Mr. Sunday Ngwu and Mr. Michael Ude wondered why they should be
manhandled in such a manner by men of the Prisons Armed Squad for an act the
know nothing about and therefore called on the Prison authorities to checkmate
the excesses of their officers. Reacting to the incident the State Controller
of prisons, Mr. Iheanyi I. Amadiri said that his office would carry out a thorough
investigation on the matter and if they officers are found liable the authorities
would not hesitate to take internal disciplinary action of the officers.
Meanwhile, Mr. Isaac Onu has threatened legal
action to enforce his fundamental human right.
©2014
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