The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, has asked for the immediate arrest of the hoodlums who allegedly kidnapped a man and forced him to denounce his support for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In the viral video, a middle-aged man was allegedly kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed cave-like location.
The distraught man said henceforth he will 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 is a violation of the man’s fundamental human rights.
Effiong disclosed this in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Friday.
The statement read; “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.”
It was reported that it could not be ascertained if the video was staged, but the police investigations are ongoing.