HURIWA Challenges IGP Disu Over Detention of Four MT THOR Crew Members, Demands Probe of CSP Sini

Rights group urges police chief to order immediate review of the detention, investigate alleged disregard for court directives and emulate DSS Director-General’s human rights interventions.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, to investigate allegations of prolonged detention and human rights violations involving four men arrested in connection with the MT THOR vessel in Delta State.

The association urged the police chief to emulate what it described as the human rights record and corrective interventions of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, particularly in addressing cases of wrongful detention and alleged misconduct by security operatives.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said the IGP must urgently review the circumstances surrounding the continued detention of Ebor Eric Kessiena, John Atawo Lawrence, Godwin Okpaje and Mukaila Sarumi.

The association’s demand follows a petition dated October 26, 2026, submitted to the IGP by lawyers P. O. Onucheyo and S. D. Omẹde, representing interests connected to the MT THOR vessel.

According to the petition, the four men were arrested on December 15, 2025, following the interception of the vessel at Koko, Warri, Delta State.

The lawyers alleged that the vessel was being towed under Marine Police escort to the Warri jetty and was within the custody and control of the Admiralty Marshal pursuant to proceedings before the Federal High Court when the men were arrested.

They maintained that their clients were engaged in pumping water from the vessel’s engine room to prevent flooding and possible sinking when they were intercepted.

The petition also questioned the circumstances surrounding their arrest and subsequent prosecution over allegations bordering on illegal petroleum dealings and crude oil theft.

HURIWA expressed concern over the allegation that the four men had remained in detention at the Okere Correctional Centre, Warri, for more than six months, calling for an urgent examination of the legal basis for their continued incarceration.

The association further drew attention to proceedings before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Daylop Pam, which the petition reportedly linked to an order for the arrest and production of CSP Omar John Sini over fundamental rights issues involving the detainees.

It also referenced Suit No. FHC/W/CS/65/2024, correspondence concerning the transfer of the matter to the appropriate investigative formation and questions surrounding a December 12 analysis attributed to CSP Sini.

HURIWA called on the IGP to order an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations, including the circumstances of the vessel’s interception, the arrest of the four men, the evidence relied upon by investigators and the handling of relevant court and Marine Police records.

The group specifically demanded that CSP Sini and any other officers implicated in the petition be investigated to establish whether due process was followed.

It urged the police leadership to obtain and examine certified court records and determine whether relevant judicial directives had been complied with.

The association also called for the immediate review of the detainees’ cases and their release if their continued detention is found to be contrary to subsisting orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.

HURIWA, however, stressed that its intervention was not intended to shield anyone from legitimate criminal investigation but to ensure that law enforcement activities remain within constitutional boundaries.

DSS DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S INTERVENTIONS

Explaining why it wants the IGP to take corrective action, HURIWA cited recent interventions by DSS Director-General Ajayi, including the release of four men arrested over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The four men, Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry, were reportedly arrested in Bayelsa State in May 2022 after being misled into believing they would receive monthly payments of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.

According to HURIWA, Ajayi authorised their release and approved N5 million compensation for each of them, bringing the total compensation package to N20 million.

The association also cited other reported interventions, including compensation and medical support for a Jos-based businessman mistakenly shot by DSS operatives, N10 million paid to Chineze Ozoadibe following her wrongful arrest, N10 million to Sunday Ifedi after investigations cleared him of alleged IPOB links and N5 million to Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor after he was similarly absolved.

It further attributed to the DSS leadership a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases, a reduction in the number of detainees in DSS facilities to about 100 and compensation payments exceeding N1 billion to persons reportedly cleared of allegations or affected by operational mistakes.

HURIWA said the interventions demonstrated that national security responsibilities should not be used to justify prolonged detention of innocent citizens or violations of fundamental rights.

The association maintained that security agencies must be accountable for their actions and provide remedies where citizens suffer injustice as a result of operational mistakes.

It urged Disu to demonstrate similar institutional accountability by ensuring that the MT THOR petition receives urgent attention.

According to HURIWA, public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force depends not only on its ability to arrest and prosecute suspects but also on its willingness to investigate allegations against its officers, respect judicial authority and protect citizens’ constitutional rights.

The association warned that failure to address allegations of disregard for court directives could undermine public trust in the police and create the impression that individual officers operate above the law.

It therefore called on the IGP to ensure that any officer found to have acted contrary to lawful court directives is held accountable in accordance with the law.

HURIWA maintained that respect for human rights and national security are not mutually exclusive, insisting that security institutions strengthen their credibility when they correct mistakes, obey court orders and provide remedies to victims of wrongful actions.