BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri
Ace footballer and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Mr. Mobi Oparaku, who was brutalized by some policemen attached to Shell Camp Police Division, Owerri, has now sent a petition to the Inspector General of  Police, IGP.

Oparaku, wrote through his lawyer, Mr. Nick E. Nworgu, informing the IGP that he “was subjected to a very brutal and dehumanizing assault by some policemen, who inflicted grievous bodily injuries” on him.

Mobi Oparaku

Giving a graphic account of the ugly incident, Oparaku’s lawyer stated that after responding to a harmless question coming from the driver of the police patrol van, his client continued on his way.

“Suddenly, and for no justifiable reason whatsoever, one of the policemen sitting at the back of the pick-up van jumped down and started raining blows on our client. The others, numbering about five, also jumped down and joined in the brutalization of our client”, the lawyer recounted.

According to the lawyer, the policemen “kept beating and kicking our client until blood started gushing from cuts in his mouth, eyes, face and other parts of his body”, adding that his clothes were torn in the process.

“Our client was subsequently admitted at ImoStateSpecialistHospital, New Owerri, where he was treated for the injuries sustained. He deserves to be protected by state security operatives and not to be subjected to unjustifiable brutal physical assault by those whose duty it is to protect him”, Oparaku’s lawyer fumed.

The Olympic medalist further demanded that “these misguided officers should be compelled to face the law for their criminal act”.