The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for the immediate release of one of its leaders, Baribor Kumanwee, a member of the Bera Council of Chiefs and Elders, who was allegedly arrested by the police on Sunday.
In a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers APC alleged that Kumanwee’s arrest and continued detention was the handiwork of some Peoples’ Democratic Party chieftais in the state.
According to the party, information at its disposal shows that Chief Kumanwee was arrested on Sunday, March 29, 2015, after being allegedly beaten by a PDP chieftain, Mr. Dumbari Dimkpa, who was assisted by his brother, Mr. Promise Dimkpa, and their thugs to a state of stupor.
“If not for divine intervention, Kumanwee would have lost his life in the process. His only offence is that he is an ally of Senator Magnus Abe. The innocent man is being tortured in a bid to force him to make a confessional statement to implicate Abe in the recent destruction of property in Bori”, the APC said in the statement.
Ikanya added that Kumanwee, who is in the custody of the State Security Investigation Bureau, is critically ill and may die if his unjust persecution is not brought to an end.
“We will not fold our arms and allow this innocent man to die like other APC chieftains while being detained for political reasons. Chief Kumanwee’s arrest is aimed at bringing the reputation of Senator Abe and the party into disrepute. We therefore ask for his immediate release”, the statement said.
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