Chukwu Emmanuel, who says he is a Staff of Port Harcourt refinery company in Rivers State has called for justice after medical surgery was conducted on his right eye due to injury he sustained as a result of alleged torture by a Police Officer named Bright serving at Anti-Cultism unit headquarters of Rivers State Police command located at Rupokwu .
Narrating his ordeal to our correspondent, after filing at formal complaint at the headquarters of Rivers State Police command,Mr Emmanuel who has temporarily lost vision on the right eye disclosed that on March 27,2021 .
a tricycle repairer infront of his wife’s shop at Rupokwu fought with a male neigbour to his wife who deals on cement .
He revealed that the cement dealer reported the incident to Anti-Cultism unit that effected the arrest of the tricycle repairer who was released the same day from Police custody.
Mr Emmanuel explained that three days after, he received an invitation from the Anti-Cultism unit which he honoured.
He said when he got there, the Police officer Mr Bright accused him of harbouring a cultist and keeping keke repairer who is blocking the road.
Mr Emmanuel said when he rejected the accusation by the officer,the Policeman,Mr Bright handcuffed his hands and gave him several punch on his eyes for fifteen minutes. He said despite his plea that blood was coming out of his eyes,officer Bright continued punching his eyes .
According to Emmanuel, he was thrown into the cell by officer Bright who said he was acting on instruction of the Unit Commander and was released the next day after the said officer Bright allegedly extorted 35,000 naira from his wife.
The PHRC staff further explained that on getting to his company clinic, he was referred to a private eye clinic where he was diagnosed and medical surgery was carried out on him on 18th April 2021 after attempts to manage the injuries with drugs failed.
Mr Emmanuel who has not be able to see with the right eye after the incident called on the well meaning Nigerians and humans rights community in the State to help him get justice.
In the meantime, a lawyer with a rights advocacy group Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign Barrister Festus Bonwin has called for proper investigation into the incident.
Mr Bonwin urged the Police Authority in the state to bring to book any of the officer found culpable in the course of investigation.
Mr Bonwin regretted that some Police officers seem to be sabotaging the good efforts of Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday in upholding the rights of people in the state
