The occupants of the Government Housing Estate situate on the popular Benin Street, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt have accused the Rivers Police Command of allegedly looting property and money belong to them.
The occupants spoke through their leader, one Bro. Paul Abanj-Ntuen alleged that the police and some hoodlums led by one DSP Reuben barged into the housing estate and began to throw their property out of their rooms.
Bro. Abanj-Ntuen further alleged that during the ugly exercise the police and the hoodlums looted their money amounted over N.2b. according to him, the DSP Reuben and his team caused untold panic within the housing estate.
He said that property estimated at over N800,000 were destroyed during the unlawful eviction of the occupants.
Bro. Abanj-Ntuen lamented the action of the police, saying that the issue of occupying the state government owned housing estate is before a Court of Appeal. Bro. Abanj-Ntuen condemned the way and the manner in which the police acted towards them, which he described as inhuman and uncivilized.
In his speech, one Comrade Boniface Aniete alleged that the policemen and the hoodlums forcefully stormed his apartment destroyed the wardrobe and went away with N72,000.
Also one Bashiru accused the police of stealing his N100,000 while carrying out the unlawful eviction.
Earlier the counsels to the occupants, Barr. Divine O. Umezuruike and Barr. Emmanuel Amadi accused the Rivers State Police Command of using its men and officers to intimidate their clients. The lawyers told the journalists that the issue surrounding the occupancy is already before the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/161/M/2014, adding that the case has been adjourned to April 28th, 2015. The counsels wondered why the police took such a crude action. The counsels described the action of the police as an infringement on the fundamental rights of their clients.
They condemned the unlawful eviction of their clients by the police and vowed to institute a legal action against the Rivers State Police Command, as soon as the court resumes.
All efforts to speak with the PPRO proved abortive. ###
