11th August, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned in strong terms the unjustified, gruesome murder of an Ogoni, Mr. David Legbara by a policeman, sergeant James Imhalu and demanded his immediate prosecution and payment of adequate compensation from the police to the family of the deceased.
MOSOP has also warned that should nothing be done within fourteen (14) days, the Ogoni people would have no choice than to peacefully and non-violently protest the heinous killing.
MOSOP said its position is that the dastardly act has gone far beyond mere condemnation by the police hierarchy and it must thus match its public reaction with visibly genuine action.
“The Ogoni people, we must say, are keenly watching and would accept nothing less than justice not only being done but also seen to be done in record time,” the statement signed by Bari-ara Kpalap, the media Advisor to the President of MOSOP stated.
He noted that the deceased until his death was a commercial bus driver, the only child of his parents and bread winner of the family and hailed from Uegwere-Boue community in Khana Local Government Council of Ogoni in Rivers state.
“He was mowed down in questionable circumstances at Whimpy junction, Mile 4, Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt on Friday, August 7, 2015 by the murderous Sergeant James Imhalu, a mobile police officer attached to Kala police station also in Port Harcourt.
“The condition under which Mr. Legbara was killed is reminiscent of past situations wherein a huge number of Ogoni natives have been gruesomely murdered over the years by the police over the latter’s attempts at extorting money from our people.
“Reports available to MOSOP have shown that the issue occasioning this latest death was extortion-related but seemingly masked otherwise.
MOSOP averred that it is deeply concerned at the excessive use of force by the officer on the victim in a matter eyewitnesses said was not corresponding to such degree of violent response.
MOSOP’s posited that even if the deceased had committed any offence; Sergeant Imhalu had no right to have taken his life. As a police officer of his rank, he could not have feigned ignorance of the fact that he was prohibited by law and good conscience from denying the deceased his inalienable right to life hence the it is believed that the policeman’s killing of the Ogoni was deliberate because there were acceptable options available to him.
MOSOP further pointed out that the violent approaches with which most police officers pursue the issue of extortion to the detriment of civilise policing have become a major source of concern and an appalling embarrassment to the people adding that tendency has occasioned erosion of confidence and cooperation with the police by the general public.
Ogonis said from the action of the Policemen like Sergeant Imhalu therefore call for comprehensive reform of the Nigeria police.