Delta State
Police Command has thoroughly searched the Otor-Iyede, Isoko North Local
Government Area home of human rights activist, Comrade Anthony A. Ogbalo
r, who
it is detaining as a kidnap and robbery suspect.
Isoko youths
and some concerned stakeholders have cautioned the police against media trial
and hasty decision on arrested activist.
Ogbalor, a
former president of Isoko youths was paraded with other alleged kidnappers and
armed robbers by Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, last
weekend in Asaba.
But some
Isoko stakeholders urged caution on the matter in view of Ogbalor’s human
rights activism and running battles with politicians and and others in the area
who he had been accusing of colluding with oil companies and Delta State
governments to shortchange and marginalize the petroleum-producing ethnic
nationality.
They include
Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA), Isoko Lions
Movement (ILM) and a human rights lawyer, Rockson Igelige.
It was
learnt that during the search for weapons and other incriminating evidence,
nothing was found.
Meanwhile,
Ogbalor’s supporters have debunked a claim by a newspaper that he admitted to
it that he was a criminal.
One of them
who did not want to be named, said: “Comrade always tells his followers, his boys
in particular, to shun crime so as not to fall into police because he is a
human rights activist fighting for the Isoko and Niger Delta people who will
not associate with criminals or bail them.
“Therefore,
it won’t be a surprise that his refusal to help might make an arrested
disgruntled follower or one who he has sanctioned or plans to discipline to
want to rope him in.”
0 Comments