The Police in Akwa Ibom State have been accused of illegally arresting and falsely charging Emediong Davis, a student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, and his friend of being members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Davis, a visual artist and Electrical Electronics Engineering student in National Diploma II, had gone to deliver the artwork he made while at home due to a strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) when he went missing along with his friend, Saturday Okon Job.

“On the 13/5/2021, a day after returning from school, Davis went to Obot Akara LGA to deliver an art work which he made for a family residing there, who had contracted him earlier for it. He was conveyed in a motorcycle, by a friend, Saturday Okon Hob, who accompanied him,” Twitter user @Truthfully83 wrote.

That was the last time they were seen. Families could not contact them, as their phones were switched off. For days, both families living at Ekot Ekpene searched hospitals, mortuaries and police stations, but did not find the duo.

“They even went to the @PoliceNG headquarters at (Ikot Akpan Abia) but were told that they weren’t there.”

However, after going missing for six days, families were surprised to find their children’s names among suspects arrested by the police following a raid by security forces on IPOB’s camp in Essien Udim LGA.

“The @PoliceNG is denying having them, despite publishing their names as IPOB/ESN members, that they arrested in the state. No one knows if they are still alive or not,” @Truthfully83 stated.

When contacted by FIJ, Odiko Macdon, the Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom Police, said he was not aware of the matter and could not comment.