Ikokwu4: The four men arrested and tortured by police over alleged car theft in River State, released after DPP said they couldn’t establish any criminal case against them (photos)

The four men now known as #Ikokwu4, arrested by police in Port Harcourt over alleged car theft, were released on Wednesday after the Rivers State Department of Public Prosecution(DPP) said they couldn’t prove any criminal case against them.

Recall that the four persons, Victor Ogbonna, Osaze Friday, Ifeanyi Osuji, Ifeanyi Onyekwere and late Chima Ikwunado, were arrested on December 19, 2019. They were allegedly tortured in detention to admit that they stole one of the cars they were repairing.

However, the owners of the cars, Eradiri Erepamo and Chinedu Ezenwaliri later said that their vehicles were not stolen but given to the arrested men for repair. While Chima died in detention, police arraigned the four men on spurious charges of robbery.

The report of the Rivers State Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, on the #Ikokwu4, was released on Wednesday.

In the report, the DPP ordered the prison authorities to immediately release the four detained men because no criminal case has been established against them.

The State Judiciary Complex premises were filled by members of the Civil Societies Organizations, members of the public, journalists, members of the Ohaneze Indigbo waiting for the release of the four detained men. The popular Ikokwu motor spareparts market was shutdown in solidarity and protest for the release of the men.

There was public outcry over the alleged torturing to death of Chima Ikwunado and detention of his colleagues by officers of the E-Crack unit of the Rivers State Police Command.