The families of 17 friends who were arrested by men of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have demanded the release of their wards, News About Nigeria reports.
The families made this demand on Friday, stating that their wards were arrested unlawfully.
The 17 friends were arrested in connection with the penultimate Wednesday’s murder of Police Inspector Usang Egbe in Uyo.
Recall that Police Inspector Egbe, a resident of Akan Bassey Avenue in Afaha Ube village, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, was gruesomely murdered by youths suspected to be cultists.
However, upon hearing the State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon announce that the Command had arrested 22 persons between January 31 and February 2, 2024, in connection with the deaths, the families raised alarm, stating that their wards are innocent and have nothing to do with the crime.
They demanded that their wards be released immediately and without any conditions.
According to the report, the 17 arrested persons, who are said to be part of a group called “Friends Forum,” had just returned from the funeral of the father of one of their members in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area (LGA) when they were arrested at a bar along Atiku Abubakar Way in Uyo.
Speaking with newsmen, the wife of one of the detained 17 friends, simply identified as Regina, said, “My husband is one of the pioneer members of the organisation ‘Friends Forum’. And one of them lost his father, so they went for the burial that day that they were arrested.
“I can authoritatively tell you that he (Ekemini) is a gentleman from a good family background. I am not just saying this because he is my husband,” she said.
