Right Activist, Aghogho drags Delta CP, Ali before NHRC, Calls For His Arrest, Prosecution Over Alleged Involvement In Child Trafficking, Banditry, Terrorism, Others. .... "Police React. Says Right Activist Aims At Blackmailing Command

CP Ari Mohammed Ali

"One question which remained unanswered by the said Aghogho is how handing over found children to the Government Ministry empowered by the constitution of Nigeria to take custody of such children translates to child trafficking? Delta State Police Command reacts.

The Delta State Coordinator of a Pro-democracy group, Take It Back has petitioned the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali before the National Human Right Commission, NHRC with a call for his immediate arrest and prosecution of over his alleged involvement in the Massive Child Trafficking, Banditry and Terrorism Allegedly Committed Against Children in the State.

This is contained in a petition signed by NHRC Delta State Coordinator, Mr. Alpheus Ngwu and TIB Delta State Coordinator/Petitioner, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

The Executive Secretary,
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Abuja and the Inspector-General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja were copied in the petition.

"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 titled “Re: in the case of the alleged abduction and trafficking of over ten thousand children through the Delta State Police Command” but has refused to carry out the said order to date. Find attached and annexed the said letter as Annexure Q1.

"That via another Petition dated 11/11/2021 addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, 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. Find attached and annexed the said letter as Annexure Q2.

"That the claim of CP. Ali Mohammed Ari that most of the Police stations and commands in Delta State do not have records of children is very worrisome because these police stations and commands are responsible for the transfer of exploited children from their custody to child trafficking centres also known as ‘Orphanages ‘or ‘Orphanage Homes’ illegally approved by the Ministry of Women Affairs in Delta State. Find attached and annexed the list of suspected child trafficking centres otherwise known as orphanages in Delta State as compiled by the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs Asaba herein annexed as Annexure Q3."

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

"That CP. Ali Mohammed Ari appears to be fraternizing with suspected child traffickers, bandits and terrorists who are mainly Delta State government officials including Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas, Mr. Joshua Omorere and others who had infiltrated the Delta State Police Command to cause the disappearance thousands of children from Delta State.

"That we cannot condole the conduct of a Commissioner of Police who is working against the interest of children by conspiring to trafficking them using the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force and at same time displaying utmost disregards for the Order of the Inspector-General of Police.

"That on/about the month of February 2022, CP. Ali Mohammed Ari conspired with Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas, Permanente 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. Find attached and annexed an online copy of Vanguard Newspaper dated February 23, 2022 exhibiting the incidence as Annexure Q4.

"That on /about 23 June 2021, CP. Ali Mohammed allegedly supervised the re-trafficking of Jamina Shagari ‘F’ ‘16years’ and three other children. by failing to take the affected children into Police Emergency Protection thereby contravening   Section 44 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003. Find attached and annexed an online copy of the Guardian Newspaper dated February 23, 2022 exhibiting the incidence as Annexure Q5.

"It is very pertinent your office swiftly investigates the content of the Petition with a view of arresting and prosecuting the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed if found wanting and preventing further breakdown of law and order.

"Take Notice, the said CP Ari Mohammed has hired the services of killer police officers, suspected bandits and terrorists including the notorious Divisional Police Officers (DPO), Ovwian Police station and the Area Commander Burutu, SP.  Samuel Yohanna and ACP. Adetoye Adepegba respectively to frame up, kidnap and assassinate Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho."

                    Police react

The Delta State Police Command led by CP Ari Muhammed Ali have reacted to the allegations levelled against it by Ighorhiowhunu Aghogho, the Coordinator of a Pro-democracy group, Take It Back.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

The Police said, "The attention of Delta State Police Command has been drawn to several online publications including Sahara reporters credited to one Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, a self-acclaimed human right activist and State Coordinator Take it back (TIB), Delta State Chapter.

"In the said publication, he alleged that Police Officers of the Command, after rescuing victims of child trafficking, hands over the rescued children to the Ministry of Women Affairs in a way of aiding the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, in trafficking the rescued children. One question which remained unanswered by the said Aghogho is how handing over found children to the Government Ministry empowered by the constitution of Nigeria to take custody of such children translates to child trafficking?

"For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of clarification, the Command wishes to emphasize that it is solely the responsibility of either the State or federal government to cater for a found child and provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority when, and if the need arises. Section 125 of the CHILD’S RIGHT ACT of Nigeria states that;

"(i) Every State Government shall, for the purpose of adoption, establish and maintain within the State and, in the case of the Federal Government, within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja a service designed to meet the needs of;

"(a) a child who has been or may be adopted;

"(b) parents and guardians of the child specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and

"(c) persons who have adopted or who may adopt a child, and for this purpose, every Government shall provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority.

"(ii) The facilities to be provided as part of the services maintained under subsection (1) of this section include‐

"(a) temporary board and lodging, where needed by a child and, in exceptional circumstances the mother of a child;

"(b) arrangements for assessing a child and prospective adopters and placing of the child for adoption; and

"(c) counseling for persons with problems relating to adoption.

"Section 174-178 of the Child Right Act deals extensively with the processes of adoption which extends to the custody of found children. 

"Succinctly, it is noteworthy, as it is crystal clear, that the Command has done no wrong by handing over any child found in the State to the State ministry under which purview such responsibility falls. If the self-acclaimed activist is not comfortable with the law as it is stated in the Child’s Right Act of Nigeria, he can and is advised to seek redress in the court of law. 

"Undoubtedly, the effort of the said Aghogho is aimed at blackmailing the Command into abandoning the numerous criminal cases against him with a view to escaping justice.

"However, the Command will not fold its hands, watch a misinformed, ill-intended and disgruntled individual rubbish its good work, drag the Command to the mud or make comments that are capable of bringing the name of the Commissioner of Police into disrepute.

"The Command will therefore take every necessary step to ensure that he is brought to justice sooner than later."