Eye witness account of the movement of abattoir detainees to prison in Abuja

More detailed information has reached DPA News on the dramatic details of how Abattoir inmates were moved on Monday and Tuesday from Abattoir police detention to Kuje and other prisons.

Since 10th October 2019, DPA has sent two petitions to the National Assembly, the Presidency, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the United States and British Governments, the Inspector General of Police, etc, alerting them of gross human rights abuses perpetrated by the Nigerian police at Abattoir detention center. DPA petition demanded  for hearings and investigations into these atrocities and closure of Abattoir.

The existence of Abattoir and the atrocities committed there came to light after a police officer, James Idachaba, unlawfully detained Emeka Ugwuonye on July 6, 2018 at Abattoir. That decision to detain Emeka Ugwuonye, Founder of DPA, turned out to be a fateful event.

Upon discovering the atrocities, Ugwuonye made it the mission of DPA to expose Abattoir to the world and to free thousands of Nigerian citizens detained there in slave-like conditions.

Abattoir, which turned out to be billions of naira racket from which police officers like Mr. Bala Ciroma, the current Police Commissioner for Abuja, and Mr. James Idachaba unlawfully enriched themselves. These two butchers of Abattoir conspired to silence Emeka Ugwuonye by fabricating false murder charges which led to unjust detention of Emeka Ugwuonye by Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi under questionable legal circumstances.

The detention of Emeka Ugwuonye did not deter DPA from pursuing the mission of closing down the Abattoir detention center. This effort began to bear fruits from multiple branches when last two weeks the Chief Judge of FCT Abuja and the Chief Magistrate of Abuja decided to pay a scheduled visit to Abattoir.

As usual, early in the morning of the scheduled visit, the policemen went to the Abattoir cells and moved hundreds of inmates and hid them. By the time the Chief Judge and Magistrate arrived, the detention cells looked empty. But one of the few inmates that were left behind had the courage to inform the Chief Judge and Chief Magistrate that the inmates were hidden from them. The Chief Judge and Chief Magistrate then decided to pay unscheduled visit to Abattoir.

On Monday, 4th October, 2019, the Chief magistrate arrived Abattoir early in the morning with his staff unannounced and the police were taken unawares. The Chief Magistrate could not believe what he saw. The Chief Magistrate issued hundreds of warrants for the inmates to be remanded in prison and to be charged to Court. That led to the moving of the inmates on Monday evening to Kuje and other prisons. This event was acknowledged by several eyewitnesses. (See the screenshot below).

The efforts of the Chief Magistrate coincided with the effort of the IGP office to decongest Abattoir in anticipation of the public attention which DPA has brought to bear on the scandalous activities going on at Abattoir.

This is an unfolding event and further updates shall be provided. Stay tuned to DPA News.