Benue: Former IRT officers in trouble over disappearance of suspect, Ashwe

The National Human Rights Commission panel has ordered the police to produce operatives of the disbanded Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Benue State.

The panel is investigating alleged human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.

Sulieman Galadima, Chairman of the panel, said the order became necessary for the officers to provide information on the whereabouts of one , Morris Ashwe, a victim of alleged enforced disappearance.

Mr. Galadima gave the order after Mr. Ashwe’s brother, Raphael, alleged that the IRT arrested the victim on May 8, 2018.

Mr. Galadima stated, “The police have to produce the officers of the IRT involved in the arrest of the petitioner’s brother. The force is a system and cannot appear helpless.

“The police should go through its records with the pictures available and the case file to get to the root of the matter.”

He adjourned the matter until March 23 for the continuation of the hearing.

Earlier, Raphael alleged that the IRT arrested his brother (Ashwe) in Benue over allegations of gunrunning and illegal possession of a firearm.

“After my brother was arrested, we were told that he was taken to the IRT headquarters in Abuja,” he said.

The petition was against DSP Haladu Mohammed, the officer in charge of IRT, police commissioner in Benue, and the inspector-general of police.

Counsel to the respondents, Kenneth Ogbuchua, asked the petitioner if he knew Mr. Mohammed was present when his brother was arrested.

“I have never met DSP Mohammed in person. But in the course of filing my petition, his name was dropped by Judith Nwese, Ashwe’s fiance who is now dead,” he said.

Also testifying, Mr. Mohammed told the panel, “I do not know anything about this case. I was not in Benue when the said incident took place.

“I was on posting in Kano at the time of the alleged arrest, detention, and inhuman treatment of the victim.”