Group raises alarm over controversial arrest of ex-Chevron employee

A Niger Delta based group, Itsekiri Grassroots Movement, IGM has raised alarm over the controversial arrest of a retired Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL employee, 48-year old Churchill Agbelogode, saying his surprise arrest alongside five others Saturday January 7, 2017 by Men of the Nigeria Navy, NNS Delta along Enerhen Road near Warri has thrown family members, friends and associates into confusion.

In a statement issued Wednesday January 25, the Itsekiri Grassroots Movement explained that since the arrest of Churchill Agbelogode alongside a member of Delta Waterways Security Committee, Bounanawei Smith and four others, three of them were released Thursday January 12, while Churchill Agbelogode who voluntarily retired from Chevron May 2016 as a result of health issues, Mr. Bounanawei Smith and another of their associate have been in detention in an unknown destination for reasons unknown to family members and people of the Niger Delta.

The statement signed by Comrade Awala Emiko and Comrade Blessing Yonwuren, President and Publicity Secretary of IGM respectively, averred that apart from denying access to family members and Attorney of Churchill Agbelogode, security officials were yet to establish contact between the detainee and members of his family as well as press charges against Mr. Agbelogode.

According to the group, the six children of Mr. Agbelogode, including an undergraduate and four secondary school students have not been able to return to school due to cash crunch and emotional trauma, while his wife and other family members have continued to suffer in agony, fearing that Agbelogode’s health situation may have deteriorated.

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