YRC CONDEMNS CONTINUOUS HARASSMENT OF IFEOMA NWOGARANYA AND HER HUSBAND BY ENUGU POLICE FCID AGBANI
ENUGU POLICE MUST STOP ACTING AS PRIVATE ENFORCERS FOR GLORIA BERTRAM OKOLI AND EZZY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF NURSING SCIENCE
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) strongly condemns the continuous harassment, intimidation, and threats being carried out against Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya and her husband by the Enugu State Police Command, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Agbani, after the police shamefully allowed itself to be used by Dr. Gloria Bertram Okoli, the CEO of Ezzy International College of Nursing Science Enugu, to silence dissent and defend the administrative authoritarianism that characterizes the institution.
The public would recall that the crisis began after Joy Ezeugwu, a student health worker posted to Uwani General Hospital, Enugu State, courageously exposed through a viral video the deplorable and inhumane conditions at the hospital, including lack of electricity, poor water supply, heaps of refuse, and the terrible condition under which pregnant women and patients were receiving treatment.
Instead of addressing the terrible state of public healthcare facilities exposed by Joy Ezeugwu, the management of Ezzy International College of Nursing Science and its allies resorted to intimidation and repression.
Subsequently, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya merely expressed an opinion on the school’s closed WhatsApp platform defending Joy Ezeugwu and stating that she “did nothing wrong” by exposing the deplorable condition of the hospital.
For this simple opinion, Ifeoma Nwaogaranya was singled out for victimization, verbally expelled from the institution without fair hearing, removed from all school communication platforms, and denied participation in academic activities.
Since then, Dr. Gloria Bertram Okoli has consistently attempted to use state security agencies to intimidate and silence Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya, her husband, and activists who spoke out against the injustice.
After the failed attempt to intimidate them through the DSS, the Enugu Police Command FCID Agbani escalated the harassment by issuing a letter of invitation signed by ACP Stanley Imo directing Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya and her husband to report at the Homicide Section over allegations of “criminal libel and defamation of character.”
We consider this not only absurd but also a disgraceful abuse of police powers.
How did an opinion expressed on a school WhatsApp group against repression suddenly transform into homicide, criminal libel, and defamation?
The police have completely failed in their constitutional responsibility by refusing to investigate the allegations of administrative authoritarianism, repression of students, and abuse of rights within Ezzy International College of Nursing Science. Instead, they have descended into becoming a tool of intimidation and repression for a power-drunk school CEO.
Despite the letter of invitation, the harassment has continued.
Reports indicate that police operatives have repeatedly continued visiting the residence of Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya even after the invitation was issued, thereby creating fear and psychological intimidation for the family and residents around them.
Furthermore, the husband of Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya formally wrote to the police notifying them of his inability to appear on the scheduled date of Monday 24th May 2026 and respectfully requested a rescheduled date of 3rd June 2026.
However, sources close to the police have revealed disturbing indications of a sinister agenda to detain and torture Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya and her husband upon their appearance before the police.
YRC strongly condemns these threats, intimidation tactics, and continuous harassment by the Enugu State Police Command.
We call on the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, to immediately call ACP Stanley Imo and officers involved in this shameful operation to order and demand explanations as to how expression of opinion against tyranny became a homicide matter.
The Nigeria Police Force must stop reducing itself to a private enforcement structure for wealthy and influential individuals seeking to silence criticism and suppress democratic rights.
Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of expression, while Section 36 guarantees fair hearing. These constitutional rights cannot be suspended because powerful individuals are uncomfortable with criticism or opposition.
Educational institutions must not be transformed into centres of fear, dictatorship, and repression where students are punished for expressing opinions and defending justice.
We demand:
- Immediate withdrawal of all police invitations and harassment against Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya and her husband.
- An end to police surveillance, intimidation, and threats against the family.
- Immediate investigation into allegations of repression and authoritarian administration within Ezzy International College of Nursing Science.
- Immediate refund of all fees paid by Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya following her unjust verbal expulsion from the institution.
- That the Nigeria Police Force refrains from being used by Dr. Gloria Bertram Okoli or any wealthy individual to intimidate citizens exercising their democratic rights.
The Youth Rights Campaign wishes to make it clear that we shall continue to resist repression and abuse of power through lawful democratic means.
We remain in solidarity with Ifeoma Nwaogaranya and all oppressed students, youths, and workers facing intimidation for speaking out against injustice.
Michael Adaramoye Lenin
National Coordinator
Francis Nwapa
National Secretary
YRC email: [email protected]