The Police in Ebonyi state says it has arrested 10 persons in connection with the alleged torture of a cleric, Oko Chukwu Obeni.
The Pastor was allegedly tried and punished by the Traditional Council of his Amasiri community known as the Essa and Isi Oru.
In a video which has since gone viral, his hands were tied to his back and he was flogged and beaten.
Following outcries and condemnations that greeted the incident, the Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of Julius Amadi Nyerere and 9 others for the alleged assault.
Police Spokesman in the state, Loveth Odah stated this in a statement.
โOn 14th of May at about 5:pm one Pastor Oko Chukwu Obeni โmโ age 30yrs of Ndukwe Amasiri village in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State reported at Afikpo North Division that Isi Oru Age Grade led by one Julius Amadi Nyerere and deputized by one Eze Ogbonna โmโ all of the same address dragged him to the Ogo Play ground in the area, tired his both hands to back and flogged him severally with canes which infected multiple injuries all over his body and poured him with filthy waterโ, the Spokesman said.โ
Mrs Odah said that following the report, the victim was immediately taken to the hospital for proper medical care and he is responding to treatment.
โSubsequently, the leader of the Isi Oru Age Grade Mr. Julius Amadi Nyerere and nine others were arrested in connection of the caseโ, she said.
According to Odah preliminary Investigation revealed that the assault was as result of a post made by the victim in one of the popular Social media platforms, Facebook, condemning a particular action of Afikpo North LGA Council Chairman Hon. Ogbonnia Oko Enyim and commending the Traditional Ruler of the area and his cabinet over the decision taken against the Council boss for such actionโ.
She added that the LGA Council Chairmanโs loyalist were allegedly angered by this post in the said platform causing them to take the laws into their hands thereby committing the heinous crime.
โMeanwhile, the Acting Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, DCP Yekini A. Ayoku urged the general public to remain calm as he has ordered a full scale investigation into the matter with a view to unravelling the circumstances that led to such inhuman treatmentโ, Odah added.
