A socio-cultural group, the Izon Cultural Heritage Centre (ICHC), has raised the alarm over alleged arson, destruction of their spiritual place of worship, breach of public peace, threat to life, and breach of Police code of conduct by a personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other suspects.
In a petition by the legal adviser, ICHC, Wisdom Meni Adike, addressed to the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, the cultural group, who worships Osuopele Deity, claimed violation of their rights to worship.
The ICHC stated: “We hereby submit this petition to formally address the grievances resulting from acts perpetrated by Mr Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, a Superintendent of the Nigeria Police Force, along with his associates.
“On December 20, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, Mr Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, accompanied by the following individuals: Mr Benjamin Oroso; Tony Edenbo; Mr Aviba Akuna; and Mr Chalington Owan, engaged in an unlawful act that resulted in the arson of our sacred worship site.
“This act constituted a wilful destruction of property and a blatant act of arson against a place of worship.
“Despite the peaceful attempts by worshippers of the Osuopele Temple to prevent this destruction, they were overpowered and assaulted by the aforementioned individuals.
“This aggression not only resulted in the demolition of the sacred worship site but also caused a significant breach of public peace.”
The cultural group said in adherence to their legal obligations as law-abiding citizens, the worshippers of Osuopele did not resort to self-help but opted to report the incident to the Nigeria Police Force.
The group further stated: “We request urgent and appropriate actions from your office to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure that justice prevails against the unlawful acts committed by the aforementioned individuals.
“The unlawful actions committed during this incident are in direct violation of the following provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
“Section 443 criminalises the wilful setting of fire to structures, making any individual found guilty liable for life imprisonment. “Section 444 criminalises attempts to unlawfully set fire to properties as detailed in Section 443, punishable by up to fourteen years of imprisonment.
“Furthermore, the actions of Mr Tamarauebi Elisha Owan and his associates constitute a violation of the fundamental rights of the worshippers of the Osuopele Deity, as enshrined in Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).
“This section guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. In light of the foregoing, we urge the Nigeria Police Force to undertake an immediate investigation into these acts of arson and to take appropriate legal actions against Mr Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, Mr Benjamin Oroso, Tony Edenbo, Mr Aviba Akuna, Mr Chalington Owan, and any other individuals involved.
“We trust that this serious matter will be treated with the urgency it deserves to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all citizens in Nigeria.
“The above provisions of the Criminal Code Act speak for themselves and call for the urgent investigation, sanctioning, arrest and prosecution of Superintendent Tamarauebi Elisha Owan and others.”
Also speaking on the issue, Chairman of the ICHC, Apostle Bodmas Prince Kemepadei, urged the police to act fast before the matter degenerates.
Apostle Bodmas stated: “We are using this medium to call on the Nigeria Police Force to act before this matter degenerates into an inter-religious crisis as we are doing all our best to calm the temper of our worshippers.
“The situation is nothing but a clear case of intimidation, harassment, and infringement on our rights of worship.”
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