By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

Late Onyeka Agupugo

When Mr. Onyeka Agupugo from Agulu in Anaocha LGA of Anambra State left his house last Saturday, August 13, for the popular Nwagu area of the town, little did his wife he married two months ago know that it was the last time she would see him alive.

Onyeka was said to be listening to an argument between a policeman and a commercial motorcycle operator, Onyekwelu Muojekwu, at the checkpoint in the area over N20 which the policeman demanded from the motorcycle operator. When he felt that the argument was getting too hot, he walked up to them to plead with the policeman to pardon the motorcycle operator.

Apparently angered by the man’s interference, the policeman reportedly slapped him and in the ensuing scuffle, the other policeman standing at a distance shot him and he died instantly. As soon as the man fell down, the policeman and his colleagues ran away.

The incident caused a stampede in the area and people began running away to avoid being entangled in the matter. Women groups in the town who were holding their August meeting had to close abruptly and the entire Nwagu area where the incident took place was immediately deserted.

Youths in the area who witnessed the incident, quickly mobilised themselves and rushed to the nearby police station and in the process, inflicted a lot of damages on the building. All the policemen on duty at the station fled on sighting the angry youths who chanted war songs as they approached the station. Onyeka’s body was later taken to the mortuary by the police, while authorities of the state police command made efforts to douse the tension created as a result of the incident.

Following the intervention of the member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ebele Ejiofor, the body of Onyeka was released to the family for burial.

The lawmaker, who expressed worry over the frequent incidence of police harassment at the checkpoints, urged the police authorities to properly brief those sent to mount the checkpoints on what their functions are. The lawmaker, however, ensured that his constituents did not take the laws into their hands as he pleaded with them not to attack the police.

He however promised that his people would follow the matter to its logical conclusion in court and ensure that justice was done. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, who described the incident as unfortunate, said the police officer was immediately arrested, tried and dismissed from the force assuring that justice would certainly be done in the matter.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge of criminal investigations department in Anambra State, Mr. Mike Okoli, said the accused policeman would be charged to court for murder. According to the ACP, the fate of the police man would serve as a deterrent to others who often take laws into their hands while performing their official functions.