Investigate, Prosecute Human Rights Violations Against Mr. Owoidighe John of Nkek Abak – Akwa Ibom NUJ Charges Police
The Nigeria Union of Journalists -NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council during her Congress held on Thursday June 27, 2024 called The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command to investigate and prosecute the human rights violations on one Mr Owoidighe Samuel John of Nkek Abak Village In Ukanafun Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The call for justice which was resolved and captured under item 11 in her Communiqué dated June 27, 2024 frowned at the Nigeria Police Force for going grave silence on the matter since it was first petitioned in January 30, 2023 by a former District Court President and A Village Head Contestant in Nkek Abak, Chief Abraham Emmanuel. According to Chief Emmanuel, he is worried how Nigerians would trust the Police and report incidents happening within their communities when he has survived an attempted assasination on a human rights abuse he exposed and up till today the Police has not made any attempt to reach out to the victim for investigation and thanked Digger Media Partners for repetitioning the Police Chief on the same matter.
Mr Owoidighe John is said to be the only survivor of his family and is currently battling with his health after surviving an accident where he was working as a Vulcanizer in Port Harcourt, a tragedy that has left him physically challenged and helpless. Inspite his sorry state and how he would raise millions of money needed for the medical operations, one Mr Okon Udo Akpaneyen and his first son, Akpan Okon Udo in connivance with The Central Youth Council Chairman, Ufok Abraham Akpaneyen went to his residence at Nkek Abak, razed his house, cut down all the economic trees and sold out the property to Mr Mfon Akpaneyen for his proposed Filling Station Project.
The contingent of Journalists who drummed the crime scene and equally visited the victim at the health facility for media investigation have discovered that Nkek Abak Village in Ukanafun is known for always topping the list of communities with records of human rights violations in the State. These dastardly acts and other criminalities are not limited to kidnapping, child trafficking, rape with specific lineages in the Village setting unbreakable and unforgivable records. How can a community be more powerful than the government? This is a community that does not respect the laws just because they have people in the corridor of power who can influence the decisions of government over sensitive matters.
Findings have shown that the victim has lived on this property without the contention of residential ownership with anybody whatsoever for plenty of decades even after his parents and siblings passed on. Owoidighe John further disclosed that Mr Okon Udo Akpaneyen, his first son, Akpan Okon Udo and the Central Youth Chairman of Nkek Abak in Ukanafun, Ufok Abraham Akpaneyen incubated the idea of claiming ownership over his residence after hearing that he had a serious accident and can no longer walk or live a normal life. According to the victim, some people he holds on trust hinted him to be on the hiding as the culprits are combing all the healthcare facilities within the State in order to get rid of him having demolished his house and the land sold out to one Mr Mfon Akpaneyen in Nkek Abak.
It is high time the Nigeria Police Force absolved itself on the matter as the Agency of Government saddled with the responsibility of enforcing criminal laws and checking the breakdown of law and order.
The petition to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command was signed by The Digger Head on behalf of Digger Media Partners copied to The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State; The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ-AKS; The Chairman, National Human Rights Commission -NHRC; The Chairman, Civil Liberty Organisation -CLO; The Chairman, Citizens Liberation Movernment -CLM; The Executive Director, Center For Human Right And Accountability Network; and The Executive Director, Comppart Foundation for Justice and Peace Building. This authorities will assist the Nigeria Police Force by following up their investigation and monitoring the prosecution of the matter to get justice for the victim
