Woman, Adah cries out over alleged illegal arrest, torture of sick husband by police in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Mrs. Regina Adah, from Otukpo local government area of Benue state, has appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to save the life of her husband, Chief Adah Ijachi, and bring the perpetrators of gross violation of his fundamental rights to book.

Mrs Adah in a petition dated July 8th, 2024 alleged that her husband stands the risk of immediate elimination or irreparable damage to his body or organ(s) if immediate steps are not taken to remove him from the hands of the Police Area Commander in Otukpo, SUPOL David Ogenyi.

The petition addressed to the Zonal coordinator NHRC, Makurdi Zonal Office, Makurdi, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, expressed worry over the incident which she said is causing unease, tension and acrimony within the vicinity of her husband’s environment capable of igniting mayhem.

She noted that her husband Chief Adah Ijachi, has been subjected to severe torture and threats to his life while in police custody.

Mrs. Regina Adah implored officials to save her husband’s life and hold those responsible accountable.

According to her, the husband was arrested on July 6, 2024, while seeking medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, and was subsequently taken to the Area Command Police Headquarters in Otukpo, where he has faced brutal treatment.

She said on the same day, between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM, the Area Commander personally ordered armed men—non-police officers—to beat Chief Adah mercilessly.

She further said the beating was so severe that he lost consciousness.

“My husband was arrested on Saturday the 6th day of July, 2024 from the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi Benue State where he went in search of medical attention/solution/remedy and was taken to the Area Command Police Headquarters, Otukpo, Benue State where he is subjected to all manners of torture and real threat/risk of elimination/termination of his life at the instance/instruction and supervision of the Area Commander, SUPOL David Ogenyi.

“On Saturday (6th day of July, 2024) between 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm, the Area Commander (SUPOL David Ogenyi) personally brought out my husband from the cell to an open space within the Area Command premises, stripped him naked and ordered some armed men numbering about fifteen who were not police officers to beat him up.

“The armed men, instructed and supervised by the Area Commander (SUPOL David Ogenyi) hit my husband in all parts of his body with punches and sticks until he fainted and went unconscious. Thinking that my husband was dead, the Area Commander ordered the men to leave his body at the open space there, that he knew what to tell the appropriate/relevant authorities in defence of the attacks/assault and Assailants.

“Shockingly, the Area Commander allegedly left Chief Adah’s seemingly lifeless body in an open space, claiming he would handle the situation personally.

“Later, Chief Adah was thrown into an unknown location, and his family and lawyer were denied access to him. Mrs. Regina Adah’s son, Emmanuel Adah, also suffered a similar fate when he attempted to visit his father. Emmanuel was beaten, detained, and released the next day, bearing visible injuries.

“The situation has escalated, with the Area Commander threatening anyone who seeks Chief Adah’s release. I am afraid that my husband’s life is in danger and I am calling on the Human Rights Commission to intervene urgently.

“We reached out to the Nigeria Police Force for comment, but as of now, no response has been received,” she added.

Though SUPOL David Ogenyi, the Area Commander did not pick his calls to get his reaction on the matter, when contacted, the Benue Police Command Spokesperson SP Catherine Sewuese Anene, said the command headquarters is not aware of the incident.

She said, Mrs Adah can come and see the commissioner with her complainant through her office, for urgent attention on the matter.