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General News of Sunday, 23 February 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, reportedly beaten to coma by Delta task-force

Harrison Gwamnishuwu Harrison Gwamnishuwu

A Human Rights Activist identified as Mr Harrison Gwamnishuwu was reportedly beaten to coma by members of the Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta state taskforce for questioning their illegal activities.

Gwamnishu, who is the Director-General, Behind Bars Rights Initiative (BBI), was ambushed at the Delta Broadcasting Station (DBS) road on Thursday in Asaba, the state capital, by members of the taskforce who allegedly dragged him out of his car and beat him to coma.

He alleged that his android phone, with which he allegedly videoed the destruction of thousands of brick blocks at a block industry along the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway, and his laptop were snatched and smashed on the tarred road.

Speaking of the attack to newsmen on Saturday, Gwamnishu, alleged that the council chairman, Mr Uche Osadebe, endorsed the action of his task force.

He said,

“The 13 taskforce members pounced on me, tore my clothes, dragged out the other occupant in my car, snatched my laptop and beat me up. They said they acted on the order of the state governor.

“Even when I got to GRA police state, the boys trailed me to the station and in front of the police started slapping me and trying to whisk me away saying that the council chairman asked them to bring me, the police kept calm and refused to save me in the hands of the thugs. It took divine intervention for my life to be spelt because I was seeing my death.

“When I called the commissioner for environment, he said that governor Okowa never ask anybody to destroy property and it is already 5pm that government work close by 4pm.”

The activist noted he has directed his lawyer to quickly institute a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the council area and the chairman.

Speaking further, the lawyer, Favour Ajuebor, said a criminal petition against Osadebe has been submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, and a civil petition to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the state’s Civil Service Commission and the House of Assembly.

“They attempted to kidnap my client to murder him. In our suit at the High Court, we emphasised Chapter 4 of the constitution, as enshrined in the Africa Charter of Human Rights, because the action does not align with the Smart agenda of prosperity of Governor Okowa.” the lawyer disclosed.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Chris Onogba, however denied the action of the taskforce and maintained that Governor Okowa never supported such destruction of property nor jungle justice.

After all efforts made by our correspondent to reach the Council Chairman, Osadebe, over the allegation, he said through text message “Nothing of such”