Bernard Ogbu, a Benue state indigene has been languishing in the custody of policemen of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, for over three years without trial.

According to Ogbu's sister, Comfort the operatives led by ASP Felix Onoja, stormed Bernard’s residence in the New Nyanya area of Nasarawa State on March 3, 2019, and arrested him.

Thereafter, the policemen reportedly took Ogbu to the SARS detention facility in Abuja where his family members visited the following day to inquire the reason for his arrest.

Comfort also disclosed that her brother's plasma television set, home theatre electronics, set of chairs, boxes, clothes, Opel Astra car and other personal property were also taken away by the policemen.

After the preceding, Comfort visited her 43-year-old brother at the detention facility where he wept profusely over the alleged torture meted on him by the SARS operatives.

When Ogbu's sister asked Onoja about the offence his brother committed, he said Ogbu committed a serious offence and demanded the sum of 5 million naira from them to secure his release,  but were unable to come up with that amount of money. 

In her words:

"We have not been allowed to see him since March 4, 2019. Whenever we visited the detention facility to ask for him, the policemen usually chased us away.When the SARS was disbanded due to the nationwide protest, we made several attempts to see my brother but to no avail. His wife died of depression caused by his continued detention. She left four young children behind.”

At this time the family is uncertain about whether Ogbu is alive or dead. As for the victim’s lawyer, Napoleon Otache, He confirmed that the police detained Ogbu without any allegation. He has also confirmed that efforts to make Onoja admit the widower to bail or charge him to court proved abortive. 

Join us to help demand for the immediate release of Ogbu or he should be charged to court.