A Human Rights body, Veteran Organization for Human Rights (VOHRI) has petitioned Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, over an alleged unlawful detention of three persons, nameky, Rasidi Sylayman, Musibau Bakare and Ahmed Folarin by men of the Oyo state Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ibadan without genuine reasons.

The Human Rights Group, in petition made available to newsmen by Ayobami Sakirullah, lead activist, Abimbola Adekunke, the arrest and subsequent detention of the three persons by men of SARS led by one Inspector Makinde since last Tuesday “without any genuine reasons” which according to VCHRI amounts to violation of their fundamental rights.

In the petition entitled, “An urgent call for redress to Commissioner of police on a case of conspiracy, intimidation, unlawful arrest and detention, malicious prosecution and serious breach of fundamental human rights meted on Rasidi Sulyman Musibau Bakare and Ahmed Folarin by inspector Makinde and other men of special anti-robbery squad (SARS) Dugbe Ibadan, VOHRI alleged that “it was a surprise that the IPO, Inspector Makinde is demanding that each of the detained men should pay One hundred thousand naira N100,000 to secure their release.”

The Human Rights group in the petition alleged that the three persons have been in the SARS custody in Dugbe, Ibadan since Tuesday since they could not afford the money. alleging that one Mr. Gbenro Olaitan is using his influence to conspire with SARS men to infringe on the rights of the affected people.

“Mr. Gbenro Olaitan brought his Mack trailer to the mechanic workshop at Ashi Expressway over seven years ago. He put the vehicle in the watchful eyes of one Luqman (deceased). Initially late Luqman and Alfa were both controlling the mechanic workshop until the demise of late Luqman.

Soon after Luqman’s death a group of marauders came to the mechanic shop and carted away with the trailer (mack) atternator. This was reported to Akobo Divisional Police Station”

The group added in the petition that “about two years ago, Rasidi Sulayman took one shock-absorber of the trailer, with the conscience of Late Luqman for measurement of a size he wanted to buy and after taking the measurement, he returned the shock-absorber to late Luqman. Mr. Gbemiro Olaitan, the trailer owner had abandoned the vehicle for long without looking back until a week ago, when he came to arrest Musibau Bakare that some vital parts of the trailer had been stolen.

“After Musibau Bakare had been arrested by men of the SARS on a criminal case ought to have been handled by the Police at Akobo Divisional Police Station, Muslibau named Rasidi Sulayman and Ahmed Folarin as partakers of the crime. This was after he had been intimated and rough-handled by men of the SARS. The IPO, Inspector Makinde later demanded that each of the suspects should pay One hundred thousand naira (N100,000) owing to the inability of these three suspects to pay the amount, they are hitherto remanded at SARS cell since Tuesday 20th August, 2019. Inspector Makinde and his colleagues have vowed to keep them rotten in the cell until the bail money of N100,000 each is paid by the suspects.

“To this end, we are ready to intervene in this case of unlawful arrest and detention, intimidation and oppression meted on Rasidi Sulayman, Musibau Bakare and Ahmed Folarin by men of Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS). SARS men did not take the suspects to court after twenty-four hours, a negation and violation of human rights as enshrined in sector 34, 35 & 36 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, 2011 as amended.

While urging the Oyo state Police Commissioner, Shina Olukolu to use his good office to order a thorough investigation into the case for justice to prevail, the group said, “we bank on your quick intervention and support in this regard.”

Oyo state Police Command Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Olugbenga Fadeyi when contacted, promised that the state commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu would intervene as soon as possible, saying, they should not entertain any fear. The issue will be looked into and the officer concerned will be invited.”