The Ebonyi state police command Monday denied arresting the persons that recorded the viral video of civil servants that were flogged under the watch of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state.
Some civil servants were seen in the viral video being flogged by soldiers detailed to work with Umahi at the International Airport, still under construction in Ebonyi state.
But the persons alleged to have videoed the incident were according to a press statement by the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi chapter, Ikechukwu Nwafor, detained by police.
Nwafor in the statement condemned the flogging of civil servants and called for the release of the arrested persons.
The statement reads in part: “The law does not permit in any way or form for a uniformed officer to lay hands on a civil servant no matter the offense simply on the orders of anyone, not even the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We hereby call on the Nigerian military top hierarchy to withdraw and discipline the soldiers who participated in this unholy and highly unprofessional conduct.
“Moreso, the Ebonyi state’s Chapter of NLC has it on good authority that the personal assistant to the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development and Concession, Chief Romanus Nwasum, and his official driver have both been arrested and put in detention for recording that viral video.”
In a swift reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of Ebonyi command, SP Chris Anyanwu in another statement called on the NLC chairman to prove the arrest or risk being arrested.
“I refer to an undated press statement made by the chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi state chapter, and seek to earnestly inform the gentlemen of the press, the good citizens of Ebonyi state, and the general public, that, Ebonyi state Police command under the leadership of CP Aliyu Garba, did not at any time detain Chief Romanus Nwasum or his driver as alleged,” he said.
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