EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! What DSS, Police did to us – Peace Corps Commandant, Dickson Akoh
By James Ewaoche Amedu
The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Amb. Dickson Akoh has opened up on his encounter with officials of the Department of the Security Service, DSS, and the Nigeria Police.
IDOMA VOICE reports that officials drawn from the DSS, police and army had on Tuesday stormed the newly launched office complex of the Peace Corps and bundled away Akoh and 49 other members.
Those who dare questioned them were brutalized.
Akoh and his team were held up by the security agencies for two days and eventually freed to go after much interrogation on Thursday.
Speaking with IDOMA VOICE shortly after his release from the DSS custody, soft-spoken Akoh thanked Nigerians for standing by them at this critical moment.
He specifically hailed the National Youths Council of Nigeria, the media, Nigerian youths, human rights groups and everyone who kicked against their arrest and illegal detention.
He recalled that though the officials who questioned them did not read their allegations to them but they were surprised to read their alleged ‘offences’ it on the pages of newspapers.
He told our reporter in his residence, “They never told us what our offence was we only read in on the pages of newspapers and to me that is unconstitutional.
“It is only in Nigeria that some persons would be unlawfully arrested, detained for days and asked to go home without letting them know what their offence(s) are.
“Tuesday made it the second time they raided our office in that manner. I remember in 2002, we were arrested and during the interrogation, they wanted to know the source of our funds but we made them understood that we don’t have any other source other than the money the applicants pay. And we equally explained to them that the said money is being judiciously used for their training materials.
“This is sad,” he lamented, adding that, “We should look into the constitution so that this unlawful harassments of innocent citizens stop forthwith.
“I will meet with my team of lawyers and let the public know of our next line of action.
“We are grateful to Nigerians who spoke against this injustice. I thank the Nigerian youth, media, clerics and human rights activists who equally voiced their displeasure with the development.
I want to reiterate commitment to our mission statement, which states thus: “To empower and pre-occupy Nigerian Youths through job creation and provision of alternative employment.
“And above all, I am grateful officials of the Peace Corps of Nigeria for their patience, dedication and commitment in this project,” he added.
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Treasure Orokpo
A multi-talented individual with a passion for diverse fields, Treasure Orokpo is a trained journalist, skilled cook, and AI enthusiast. When she's not uncovering the latest stories, you can find her whipping up culinary creations in the kitchen and entertainment.
