HURIWA asks Nigerian Army to release man ‘arrested’ during wedding

 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has demanded the immediate release from an alleged military incarceration of one Mr. Peter Agwu reportedly picked up from inside a church during his white wedding.

The rights group in a statement on Friday, said, “it is absolutely inappropriate and unconstitutional that thirteen days after his arrest, the Nigerian Army has continued to detain one Peter Chibuzo Agwu, a man who was arrested in a church in Abia State during his wedding. It was reported on December 21, 2023, that some operatives of the Nigerian Army arrested Agwu inside the Zion Glory Gospel Church along Okporoama Umuezela Road, Old Umuahia Abia State during his wedding.”

“HURIWA recalled that the media had also reported that the man was arrested because someone allegedly on the military wanted list shared his wedding invitation on Facebook. On December 22, 2023, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, had confirmed the arrest of Chibuzo, adding that his arrest was in connection to a kidnap case that the Nigerian Army was investigating

He however, revealed that a preliminary report had shown that Chibuzo was innocent and was not involved or had any connections with the incident and promised that he would be released as soon possible from custody.”

The statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it is totally unacceptable and grossly illegal on the part of the Nigerian Army that Mr. Agwu had remained in solitary confinement at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu State.

The Rights group said the Army should not be lawless and become a willing tool for the wanton violations of Rights of citizens as if Nigeria is a banana Republic.

Citing media reports, HURIWA stated that Mr. Chibuzo’s bride, who spoke with a prominent USA based online medium on Thursday, lamented the emotional trauma she and her mother-in-law were going through since her husband’s arrest.

“She said she and her brother-in-law had been going to 82DV of the Nigerian Army in Enugu every two days from Umuahia