UNIPORT killing: Victims’ parents ask IG to take over investigation

*“We’ve lost confidence in Rivers State Police Command”

By Jimitota   Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT-  PARENTS of the four students, who were clubbed to death at Omuokiri-Aluu last Friday, have called on Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to take over the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of their children.

They told newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, that they had lost confidence in the ability of the Rivers State Police Command to handle the issue.

Speaking through their counsel, Mr. Peter Ndukwe, the parents said they gathered that three police patrol vehicles drove into the community at three different times while their children were being marched round by the “cheering mob in the community,” without bringing the situation under control.

They wondered why the police chose to deliberately abandon their responsibility at such a critical time, only to turn round to say they were now investigating the circumstances surrounding the killings.

The parents also said the police lied when they claimed that the suspected murderers had been charged to court in connection with the killings.

They said: “The IGP should take over investigation of the matter because we have lost confidence in the Rivers State Police Command.

“The police were there when they killed our children yet they did not stop the act. The claim that those arrested had been charged to court was mere propaganda.”

They said their children were not criminals, adding that nothing incriminating was found on them before the murder.

Three students of the University of Port Harcourt, Ugona Kelechi Obuzor, Biringa Chiadika Lordson and Mike Lloyd Toku; and their friend Tekena Erikena, were clubbed to death by irate youths in the community last Friday for allegedly stealing.