By Emma Amaize

EFFURUN—UVWIE Local Government Area of Delta State has complained to the Inspector General of Police, IG, over the alleged “unprofessional and disgraceful conduct” of heavily armed anti-riot police officers, who provided cover for suspected thugs, who invaded the council and chased away workers on July 29.

The council in a petition by its solicitor, C. E. Umweni, said the policemen not only made themselves willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians, but aided and abetted illegality as well.

It alleged that the thugs and police officers subjected law- abiding citizens, who had come to Effurun Motor Park on the same day to dehumanizing treatment such as flogging, frog jumping and temporary detention.

“In the circumstances, we urge you to use your good office to call these policemen to order by vacating the motor park with their entrenched thugs, and launch a thorough investigation into this sordid affair.

“The Police ostensibly claimed to be acting on a so- called security report that some youths intended to cause crisis in the council. However, such security report is not known to the council chairman, who is supposed to be the chief security officer of the council.

“Moreover, there is nothing on ground to show that the prediction in the security report is plausible as the council has enjoyed peace like never before since the inception of the present administration.

“Having done with sacking the motor park, this group of policemen also provided cover to the thugs to invade the council secretariat to chase away the workers and all those who had come to transact business there. Their main target was the council chairman, who was fortunately not present at the time. At the time of writing this petition, the council secretariat is under lock and key.

“Even if the so called security report was to be believed as the product of a painstaking professional intelligence gathering and not one instigated by political considerations, the invasion of the council to execute the personal agenda of some persons against the motor park and Uvwie council secretariat, does not in any way promote peace.

“It is obvious to everyone in Uvwie that the police have come to precipitate crisis in Uvwie with the aim of unseating the chairman of the council to satisfy their sponsors in Asaba,” the petition added.