By OKONKWO EZE

ONITSHA — A coalition of human rights groups Wednesday embarked on street protest, demanding the arrest and prosecution of an Onitsha-based businessman (names withheld) for allegedly battering and stripping a female police officer, Inspector Tochukwu Offorchebe, naked recently at  Bridge-Head police post, Onitsha.

Inspector Offorchebe was said to be on her duty post last Friday when the businessman operating a park in Onitsha, approached her and allegedly told her that he would facilitate her removal from Onitsha as he did to another officer, simply known as Archibong.

It was gathered that when Offorchebe demanded from him what she did that would warrant her removal, he allegedly slapped her for daring him to ask questions, while his boys tore the female officer’s uniform and almost stripped her naked.

But the coalition of the human rights groups, comprising Campaign for Democracy, CD; Ndi-Igbo Unity Forum, NUF; Ndi-Igbo United Assembly, NUA; and Human Rights Volunteer Corps, HRVC, took to the streets of Onitsha in protest against the ugly trend, wielding placards.

Some of the placards read: “Justice for Corporal Tochukwu Offorchebe”, “Women must rise-up against this assault” and “Crime against a woman is crime against God and humanity”, “CD says no to injustice”, “Women, arise, say no to injustice”, “Can this culprit condone his wife, daughter and niece being stripped naked?”, “An assault on one woman is an assault on all women”, among others.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, Chairman, CD South-East zone, said the businessman had been molesting people in Onitsha with impunity.

Uzor alleged that the same man slapped Anambra State’s Commissioner for Lands two months ago when the state government, through the commissioner, inquired about activities in his private motor park.

Uzor said:  “What we are seeing here and observing is the height of injustice, impunity and someone being above the law, especially in Anambra.

“The government and the police authority should get this man arrested and charged to court.”