Rights group petitions CNS, IGP over ‘forced disappearance, abductions, killings’

Following allegations of forced disappearance, abduction and killings, a human rights group Advocates for Peoples’ Rights and Justice (APRJ) has petitioned the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) over the activities of the Head of Naval Special Forces in Kogi State.

The group in the petition signed by its National Coordinator Barr. Victor Giwa alleged that the Head of Naval Special Forces in Kogi State Charles Akalieze and his team are now being used by some politicians in the State as tools and instruments to abduct, maim, and Kill political opponents while blackmailing the said victims as either terrorists of thugs.

The group had in the same vain petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over the activities of Chief Supritendent of Police (CSP) Femi Ojo, Commander IGP Quick Response Unit in Kogi State who it accused of conniving with one Mohammed Jamiu Asukwu, former Chief of Protocol to the Kogi State Governor and Charles Akalieze the Head of Naval Special Forces in Kogi State to force the disappearance of some politicians in the state.

According to Giwa, “Sir, reports have it that the said officers and their teams are now being used to abduct, maim and kill political opponents and blackmail the said victims by tagging them as either terrorists or thugs. Sir the above named persons Hon. Musa Adelabu, Monday Idowu, Ismail’s Momoh(2021) Abdulazeez Salami(2017) Rufai Jimoh(2021) and Hadi Abdulmaliki(2022) who are all indigenes of Kogi State have either been allegedly abducted or killed by Charles Akalieze and his group either directly or with the aid of armed boys in the State.

“Political party members in the state are under serious threat for fear of Akalieze who is now seen as an attack dog of the State government. We have forwarded the petition written by the families of the victims.”

Giwa among his prayers demanded for the immediate disbandment of the Navy Special Task Force in Kogi State, that Charles Akalieze be recalled and investigated for alleged abduction and killing of innocent citizens of Kogi state and other human rights violations and arbitrariness.

“We call on the IGP to remove CSP Ojo as Commander of the IGP Quick Response Unit, he (Ojo) should be recalled and investigated over allegations of abduction and killing of innocent citizens of Kogi State for political reasons, human rights violations, arbitrariness and brutalities,” he said.