The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a network of 49 civil society organisations spread across Nigeria and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to wade into the ongoing abuse of Imo State civil servants by the governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

The petition signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma, National Coordinator NOPRIN and Emeka J. Ononamadu, Executive Director. Citizens Center for Integrated Development & Social Rights (CCIDESOR), stated that it intends to bring to the attention of the President, “the disturbing and totally condemnable reign of terror currently pervading Imo State and which manifests in the use of the police and an armed terror squad set up by the Imperial Governor of Imo State, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, to harass, intimidate, and viciously attack groups peacefully protesting against his anti people government.

“On February 3, 2016 police officers from Imo State Command opened fire on a group of protesting Medical Doctors. One of the Doctors, a Consultant Family Physician in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Dr. Bende Azudialo was shot on the head. While it was expected that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Imo State Command would order a prompt and impartial investigation with a view to identifying the officers behind this senseless act brutality and misuse of firearms and bring them to account, the CP, instead, came out to openly defend the police and blamed the dastardly attack on faceless ‘thugs’. It was obvious that the protesting Doctors were all dressed in their professional white over-all attire as they came face to face with armed and uniformed police officers.

“It is believed that the motive of this attack on the protesting Medical Doctors was to create a sense of fear and intimidate the NLC and their CSO allies as they prepare to lead peaceful protests in Owerri this week to press home the Imo State workers’ demand that the Governor reverses his callous and illegal mass sack of workers across the state civil service.

“Clearly, this indicates how far Mr. Okorocha is determined to go in using force of arms and violence to brutally suppress opposition against his discredited and unpopular government.

In his arrogant conception of his own importance, Mr. Okorocha has placed himself above the collective will of the people whom he purports to govern, and he appears determined to subjugate and silence everyone in the state.”

NOPRIN also disclosed that, it “has received further disturbing information from credible sources concerning a further diabolical and nefarious plot by the Imo State Governor, Mr. Okorocha, to deploy and unleash his terror squad, the so-called ‘Imo State Security Network' led by his own younger brother, Okey Okorocha, who is also his Special Assistant on Youth Affairs, to violently disrupt the planned Labour/Civil Society-led peaceful protests against the Governor’s illegal sack of 6,111 workers whom he owes several months of salary arrears. “The Governor’s younger brother and other aides are also reported to be mobilising hundreds of misguided youths whom they will pay some money and be deployed to join the ‘Imo Security Network’ to counter and attack peaceful protesters. Going by the event of last week when police officers shot at protesting Doctors, it is clear that the police in Imo will also act on the side of the oppressors of the people, to scuttle the Imo people’s struggle for a responsive and accountable Government, instead discharging their duties to serve and protect the people.

“Already, Mr. Okorocha's hit squad, working in collusion with the police, has been harassing, attacking and maiming in a bid to intimidate and gag aggrieved citizens protesting and speaking out against his injustices against them. We call on the President to direct the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Police are not used to suppress the people’s demands for human rights and justice. It was the struggle of these same Imo people that forced out the immediate past Governor and paved the way for the emergence of this incumbent who today has assumed absolute powers and using State and Federal Government apparati to oppress and intimidate the people. If the police shoot and kill protesting citizens, it may degenerate to anarchy and complicate the already parlous state of insecurity in the country.

“We request the President to direct the Inspector General of Police to demobilise the terror squad in Imo State and investigate the activities of its members, order the Imo State Police Commissioner to ensure his officers act impartially and professionally, and guarantee the safety of organised groups and citizens at large. In the alternative, we request the President to direct the Inspector General of Police to dispatch a team of professional, disciplined and impartial officers to monitor or take charge of affairs in the state during the period of the Labour/CSO-led protests to avoid unnecessary clashes and casualties.”

•Photo shows Gov. Okorocha.