NIGERIAN POLICE OFFICER GABRIEL SELEKERE GOES AMOK, HARASS AND INTIMIDATES RESIDENTS OF AKENFA COMMUNITY

NIGERIAN POLICE OFFICER GABRIEL SELEKERE GOES AMOK, HARASS AND INTIMIDATES RESIDENTS OF AKENFA COMMUNITY

We have received reports of gross human right violation, abuse of office and act unbecoming of a public officer against one CSP Gabriel Selekere resident at Akenfa 3 community of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. 

Mr. Gabriel Selekere has continued to act out of order and continued to harass and intimidate his neighbors and residents around Akenfa 3 community, including the Paramount Ruler of the community who tried to intervene and caution the unwholesome acts of Mr. Gabriel Selekere, a former DPO of Patani division of the Nigeria Police Force, currently working with the Rivers State Command of the force.

This report stems from several reported incidents of human rights abuse and violations by the said Police man who through his actions and utterances have put residents in the neighborhood in fear for their lives and properties as Mr. Gabriel has on several occasions invaded the private residence of his victims and destroyed personal property of unsuspecting neighbors for unscrupulous reasons. Several attempts made by his neighbors to caution this behavior have failed to yield any reasonable result, as the policeman has continued to use his connections in the police force to frustrate these efforts. Mr. Gabriel who brandishes his service pistol from time to time to send his message of intimidation has promised to shoot or lock-up his neighbors for good if they would not let him have his way. 

Reports of the excesses of Mr. Gabriel Selekere has been lodged at several police stations and letters have been addressed to Area Commands, Commissioner of Police, Operation Delta Safe (JTF) and the Inspection General of Police to caution the excesses of Mr. Gabriel Selekere, to no avail. Rather the scenario seems to be getting worse as he has promised to deal decisively with even the community leader of Akenfa community and others who tried to intervene. It therefore seems that Mr. Gabriel Selekere seems to believe that he has the absolute power to do and undo anyone that displeases him over any domestic or social matter, and would go to any length to make sure he has his way.

This is a dangerous development, as the police officer who ordinarily should be focusing on serving and protecting the citizens, especially his neighbors, has become a terror overnight and in broad daylight as he goes around burning cars, matcheting, cutting and destroying the personal property of people living around him for no good reason. He has also vowed that certain residents will meet their untimely death in his hands, promising that it's only a matter of time. Such a case of broad daylight intimidation and intentionally orchestrated outbursts by a public servant in this generation is totally condemned on all fronts, and nothing should prevent the relevant authorities from setting the Disciplinary machinery of the Nigeria Police Force in motion to correct this anormally, especially with the weight of video and documentary evidence against the alleged suspect. But so far nothing has been done.

We therefore use this medium as an NGO to call on all relevant stakeholders especially the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Police Force to use their good office to rise to the occasion and do the needful to address the situation before it deteriotes any further. This is a serious felony by a police officer and law should take it's cause accordingly. The Force should also recollect that this Police Officer is the same man whom as leader of MOPOL in June 2014 shot and killed innocent Nigerians in Ekiti State who had embarked on a peaceful protest.

This same man had declared he would arrest and made good his threat by holding Governor Kayode Fayemi hostage for about 45 minutes at the Ejigbo junction, fired tear gas on the Governor’s car, disarmed and arrested one of the Governor’s security aides.

Attached is a video of Mr. Gabriel Selekere scaling the common boundary fence and cutting down structures of his neighbor on the other side right in front of the cameras and in full view of the public.

Signed

Ebi Robert

Publicity Secretary, PACON.