ABDUCTION OF JOURNALIST OSAHON: Group Calls Immediate Removal Of Delta Police Commissioner

Julius Osahon

"Under the watch of CP Ari Mohammed Ali, gunmen who paraded themselves as herdsmen, kidnapped a former chairman of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Julius Osahon, and some co-travelers along the East-West Road, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State." TIB Movement.

A pro-democracy and human right group, Take It Back, TIB Movement has called for the removal of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali over the abduction of a Journalist, Mr Julius Osahon.

The journalist was reportedly abducted with others at Evwreni along the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area. The driver of the bus in which he was traveling in, was also shot dead during the incident.

This is contained in a statement signed by TIB Delta State Coordinator, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

"We are by this press statement calling for the removal of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali with immediate effect due to his lukewarm and tepid measures and action as it concerns security in the state."

The group said; "Under the watch of CP Ari Mohammed Ali, gunmen who paraded themselves as herdsmen, kidnapped a former chairman of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Julius Osahon, and some co-travelers along the East-West Road, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The group noted that,"Osahon, who is the Bayelsa State correspondent of the Guardian Newspaper, was reportedly attacked on his way to the press centre at Warri, Delta State, when he was abducted together with 18 other passengers.

"We reliably gathered that the abductors, who struck on Sunday, March 27, also shot dead a driver with Sunny Eru Motors.

"That, still under the watch of the CP Ari Mohammed Ali, the hoodlums were said to have contacted the journalist's wife, demanding N5M as ransom."

It will be recalled, TIB as a group had, via a video press statement and through a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police dated 18/3/2022 referenced CB: 7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.557/184, had called for the immediate removal of CP Ari Mohammed Ali over his involvedness in alleged child trafficking, banditry and terrorism in the state.

That via a letter dated 14/10/2021, referenced CB: 7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.557/184, the Inspector-General of Police had ordered CP Ali Mohammed Ari, Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command to deal with the content of the aforesaid Petition calling for the compilation of children under the custody of the Delta State Police Command from 1991 to date but has deliberately refused to carry out the said order to date.

That via another Petition dated 11/11/2021, we have also complained about the unprofessional conduct of CP Ali Mohammed Ari of refusing to carry out the order of the inspector- General of Police with respect to the aforementioned Petition.

"The conduct of CP. Ali Mohammed Ari is not only unprofessional but centered towards acting against the interest of citizens in Delta State.

"That CP Ali Mohammed Ari appears to be fraternizing with suspected child traffickers, bandits and terrorists who had infiltrated the Delta State Police Command to cause the disappearance thousands of children from Delta State.

"That on/about the month of February 2022, CP. Ali Mohammed Ari conspired with Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas, Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs supervised the re-trafficking of 22 children who were victims of child trafficking apprehended at various spots in Warri by failing to take the affected children into Police Emergency Protection thereby contravening Section 44 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003.

"That we cannot condole the conduct of a Commissioner of Police who is working against the interest of citizens by conspiring to trafficking them, using the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force, depicting lukewarm and tepid attitudes towards kidnapped cases concerning citizens in the state and at same time displaying utmost disregards for the Order of the Inspector-General of Police.

"It is upon these grounds we are calling for the immediate removal of Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali."