Civil society organizations under the banner of Justice and the Rule of Law staged a peaceful protest at the Delta State Police Command Headquarters in Asaba, demanding justice over alleged extortion and unlawful detention of two bricklayers by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Carrying placards with messages such as “I Support Bail is Free Campaign” and “We Need Justice,” the protesters marched along the busy Okpanam Road to the police headquarters, chanting solidarity songs and calling for the full enforcement of the “Bail is Free” policy.
Reverend David Ugolor, Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and coordinator of the protest, described the continued detention of the two men—Godfrey Jonah and Henry Umukoro—as a gross violation of their fundamental human rights.
According to Ugolor, Jonah was arrested on April 11, 2025, by officers of the Oghara Division in connection with a mob action incident. Umukoro, who went to the station to secure Jonah’s release, was also arrested without cause. Despite no formal charges, both men were allegedly granted bail after their families paid N500,000—an amount allegedly extorted by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the Oghara Police Division.
“Shockingly, just days after being granted bail, both men were rearrested without a court order and transferred to the Delta State Command in Asaba. They remain in detention without charges or court proceedings,” Ugolor said.
He called the incident “a blatant abuse of power” and “a chilling reminder of the systemic rot within our policing institutions—where liberty is traded for bribes.”
The group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the two detainees, an independent investigation into the conduct of the officers involved, and legal action against those found guilty of misconduct, extortion, and rights violations.
“The silence of the authorities in the face of this injustice only emboldens further abuse,” Ugolor added, calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene swiftly.
In response, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Command, SP Edafe Bright, addressed the protesters and appealed for calm. He confirmed that the command had ordered the immediate refund of the N500,000 allegedly collected by the DCO and assured that the matter was being investigated.
Following the protest, representatives of the civil society groups were invited for a closed-door meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Olufemi Abaniwonda.