The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, has ordered the immediate arrest of hoodlums who allegedly kidnapped a man and forced him to denounce his support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.
In the viral video seen by our reporter, a middle-aged man was allegedly kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed cave-like location.
The man in jean trousers and a striped polo shirt bent his head slightly, speaking and stealing glances at those around him, though the video did not show any face.
The distraught man said henceforth he would not support Atiku in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state until the state governor, Nyesom Wike, said otherwise.
Background voices could also be heard in the video which lasted for about a minute.
He said, “From today, I will not support Atiku Abubakar again in Ikwerre local government. Ikwerre local government is the territory of Chief Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike until the Governor of Rivers State says otherwise.”
Reacting to the video, the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, said the action of the assailants was a violation of the man’s fundamental human rights.
CP Effiong, in a statement issued through the command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Friday afternoon, said those behind the wicked act would be arrested and meant to face the wrath of the law.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State CP today ordered the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crime that is currently trending on social media, in which Rhino Owhorike was allegedly tortured and forced to denounce his support for a particular politician.
“The CP warned that the act is in contravention of his fundamental human rights, the provision of section 128 (b) of the 2022 Electoral Act.
“Therefore those arrested will be investigated and if found culpable will be charged to court accordingly.”
THE PUNCH gathered that it could not be ascertained if the video was staged, but that investigations by the police were ongoing.
THE PUNCH
