The 28th day of February 2012 is a date that Ihechi Uwaoma will not forget in his life as what was meant to be a religious function turned into a serious criminal activity as alleged by the police in Uturu, Isiukwuato.
Ihechi Uwaoma, a 400 level Architecture student in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Abia State University, who was having his prayers in an uncompleted building was arrested and detained within the hours of 7am to 3pm (8hours) on the above date by members of Nigerian Police on patrol in Isiukwuato Police Division on the grounds that he was suspected to be a member of a cult group terrorizing the neighborhood.
The ABSU Law Clinic intervened. During an interview by two law clinicians, Seth Azubuike and Samuel Okwuagwulonu at the police station, Ihechi stated that he decided to go to an uncompleted building beside his lodge to say his prayers since his room was crowded and noisy. , some group of police men accosted him and asked him what he was doing. When he told them he was praying, they asked of his Bible which he couldn’t produce at that point. Subsequently he was taken to the station for more questioning and on their way to the station, he discovered he left a syringe in the short he wore while doing his Architectural modeling the previous night. Being apprehensive of what that could cause, he tried hiding it in the police vehicle and he was caught in the process.
After series of discussions with the police, the President of the Joint Campus Christian Fellowship was invited to come and attest to the character of the student detained; yet the investigating police officer insisted he had to finish his investigations. The clinicians and the (JCCF) President made a call to the Chief Security Officer of Abia state University informing him of the situation at hand and seeking for further directions. Fortunately enough, the Chief Security Officer intervened at the station and Ihechi was released after…hours in detention.
Both the police and the Chief Security Officer commended the skill, zeal and enthusiasm showcased by ABSU Law Clinic and advised Ihechi to be conscious and mindful of his environment to avoid falling victim of such arrest again.
