The Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO) has accused the Delta State Police Command of economic sabotage, human rights violations, and abuse of office over the alleged illegal confiscation and sale of motorcycles belonging to Hausa/Fulani residents in the state.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its president, Comrade Victor Ojei (also known as Wong Box), the group condemned what it described as “state-backed plunder” carried out under the supervision of Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda.
According to the organization, despite the Delta State Government’s 2024 ban on commercial motorcycles, no directive authorized the auction or private sale of seized motorcycles. The group alleged that police officers, acting under the Commissioner’s watch, raided communities populated by Northerners and moved their motorcycles to police facilities where they were later sold.
“This was not law enforcement. It was an assault on the most vulnerable and a shameful betrayal of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to own property,” YNRO stated.
The group faulted Police Public Relations Officer SP Edafe Bright’s claim that due process was followed, questioning the absence of court orders, public auction notices, and official documentation to support the purported sales.
YNRO said it would petition the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly to summon the Delta Police leadership to account for all motorcycles confiscated and sold, as well as the legal basis for the operation.
The group also called on Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, the Police Service Commission, ICPC, DSS, and the National Security Adviser to launch a full-scale investigation into what it termed “a national moral crisis.”
“This is not just a Delta issue; it is a Nigerian problem and a dangerous precedent for lawlessness by those entrusted to uphold the law,” the statement added.
The organization demanded the immediate suspension and investigation of CP Abaniwonda and all officers involved, full restitution to victims, and a transparent report from the National Assembly within 90 days.
“YNRO will not be silent. We will mobilize until every kobo stolen from the sweat of innocent citizens is accounted for and every officer involved faces justice. Nigeria cannot move forward if impunity remains our police culture. Enough is enough,” the statement concluded.