Group knocks NDLEA for detaining 10-year-old girl

A civil rights group, the Peoples Advocate for Justice, has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to release a 10-year-old girl reportedly arrested by NDLEA operatives in Rivers state.

The Co-ordinator of the rights group, Courage Nsirimovu claimed that the girl, Success Nsikan had been in agency’s custody since August 17 after she was whisked away in place of her guardian who had been dealing in cannabis sativa.

According to reports, the man fled when the little girl led NDLEA officials to his place of residence.

While speaking with the press in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Nsirimovu said it was against the law to arrest anyone by proxy.

He noted that an affidavit presented by the girl’s mother contradicted the agency’s claim that she was 15.

The group’s co-ordinator further said the NDLEA had demanded the survey document of a landed property as a condition to grant the minor bail, an allegation the agency denied.

Nsirimovu said; “Success Nsikan, the female child, is 10 years old. NDLEA made a fictitious claim that the young girl is 15 years old in order to serve their purpose of detaining a minor.“

The activist stressed that the NDLEA should focus on trailing, arresting and prosecuting the detained minor’s guardian.

But reacting to the allegations during a radio interview in Port Harcourt, the Deputy State Commander of the NDLEA, Emmanuel Obumbada, said the girl was in a safe facility undergoing counselling.

He also denied claims that the agency demanded money for her bail. The official she was helping the agency with its investigation.

Obumbada said; “She was taken into custody and put in the facility where underage people are kept. She is currently undergoing counselling. She will be released to a responsible adult after undergoing counselling.”