Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Imo State branch, has condemned attack of its members allegedly carried out by men of the Nigeria police in Owerri, during the heat of the EndSARS protest by Imo youths.
The association made its feelings known through a release signed and made available to journalists in Owerri, on Thursday by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr Chidiebere Okwara and Dr Kingsley Nwafor.
Recall that Government of Imo State, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, had placed a dusk to dawn curfew in the state, to douse tension caused by the protest being carried out by youths who are demanding for End of SARS, police brutality and police reformation.
Narrating the ordeal, NMA stated that Dr Chinwe Ajuonuma, a member of the association, was allegedly assaulted by men in police uniform, who also had a police van around Government House roundabout, Owerri, at about 5:00pm, on Wednesday, October 21.
According to the press statement, “Ajuonuma was hijacked and dumped in the bucket of a police hilux van, whisked away and told to effect a mobile fund transfer to a provided bank account number before she could be released”.
The association added that Ajuonuma, who works with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, was allegedly assaulted by police when she attempted to place a call on her family members as they accused her of using a fake identity card.
The association called on the Imo State commissioner of Police to fish out perpetrators of the alleged assault, warning that Nigerian Medical Association may be forced to down tools if assault of its members by men of Nigeria police persists.
NMA also requested the Imo State Government to specify categories of persons who fall under essential service providers so as to stop the excesses of overzealous security agents, as the curfew lasts in the state.
News Echo newspaper reports that the police could not respond to the allegation, as efforts made to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, proved futile.
