… Abaribe, Bishop Onuoha, seek justice

By Steve Oko

The Abia State Police Command has said that a Corporal who shot and killed a business man in Aba has been taken into custody.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Moureen Chinaka, who disclosed this in a press statement, said that an appreciate disciplinary actions would soon be meted on the killer cop.

She commiserated with the family of the victim, and assured them that they would be carried along in further investigations into the matter.

The victim, Mr Emmanuel Okocha from Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area was said to be driving home along Aba-Owerri Road, on Wednesday when the police at a checkpoint demanded some money from him and he allegedly refused.

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At the heat of the argument, he was shot by the trigger-happy cop, resulting into deadly wounds.

He was said to have been rushed to a hospital in the commercial city where efforts to save his life failed as he later died Friday night.

Meanwhile, the statement by the PPRO read in part: “Preliminary Inquiries into the matter reveal that a Police Corporal Obagi Njok, attached to Abayi Police Division under Abia State Police Command shot at Mr Emmanuel Okocha along Aba-Owerri Road.

“The officer has been apprehended, and necessary disciplinary procedures have been initiated.

Appropriate disciplinary actions and sanctions will be effected soonest, and he will face the full course of appropriate administrative and legal consequences. In this regard, representatives of the bereaved family and stakeholders will be carried along as the proceedings progress.

“The Abia State Police Command states without prevarication that the incident is unfortunate, and regrettable. The Command uses this medium to publicly commiserate with the family, friends, and well-wishers of the deceased.

“The Abia State Police Command remains steadfast in upholding professionalism and the rule of law. We unequivocally condemn any act of misconduct, unprofessionalism, and indiscipline among our officers.”

Abaribe, Bishop Onuoha, seek justice for Aba biz killed by police at checkpoint

Meanwhile the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinaya Abaribe has condemned in strong terms, the killing of an Aba-based business man, Emmanuel Okocha (Emma Noko), by a trigger-happy police corporal at a police checkpoint in Aba.

Similarly, the Co-chair of Interfaith Peace and Dialogue Forum, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, has also condemned the barbaric act, and demanded justice for the victim.

The victim was shot on Wednesday at Aba-Owerri Road by Corporal Obagi Njok, in an ensuing argument following his refusal to part with some money at the checkpoint.

He later died on Friday in the hospital where he was rushed to for treatment.

 Senator Abaribe in a statement Sunday, described the action of the killer cop as “primitive and most unconscionable”, and called for the establishment of a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the killing and other complaints against the police in Aba.

The former Senate Minority Leader, urged the Inspector General of Police to rein in the officers involved and to ensure that similar incidents are not witnessed again in Abia.

Senator Abaribe in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said “the gruesome cold blooded murder of Mr Okocha by the trigger-happy policeman on the allegation that he refused to give the said police officer money, is not only disgraceful, a serious blight on the image of the Nigeria Police but one that is unacceptable and stands condemnable by all.”

He, however, appealed for calm, but reminded the authorities that “the current sad development represents the low side of the proliferation of check points in the South East, such that it looks as if they are ‘buying and selling points’, rather than for security purposes.”

“These frequent killings by law enforcement officers is becoming alarming and worrisome. People now live in fears in their own country. Our people become more terrified of the police rather than being confident in the presence of them on the roads.

“That should not be the case. This is a country governed by laws and the officers must observe the rules of engagement, while dealing with the civil populace. The brutal murder of Mr Okocha is one too many, particularly in Aba and its environs by the police.

“To assuage the fears of the people, the policeman who allegedly shot and killed Okocha and thus left his young family without a bread winner must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“And for other associated similar occurrences, I urge the government to set up a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to carry out a holistic inquest with the aim of nipping these ugly events in the bud’, Abaribe said.

Senator Abaribe condoled with the bereaved family, his Abiriba community and people of Abia State.

Bishop Onuoha in his statement, said the sad incident was “yet another avoidable, senseless waste of human life!”

“This is worrisome and paints a foreboding picture of recklessness and irresponsibility by some officers of Nigerian security agencies”, he said.

Bishop Onuoha who commiserated with the bereaved family said it was the height of cruelty to waste a life for allegedly refusing to “tip-off a police officer”.

“Any loss of life under these circumstances is a grave injustice and a stain on the fabric of our society. No level of rationalising or explaining will excuse such condemnable and, I dare say, abominable act!

“Where law enforcement officers, tasked with upholding the law and safeguarding the lives and rights of all individuals, perpetuate reprehensible acts of violence and thuggery, becoming themselves, ‘power hungry uniformed-miscreants’, the society opens itself up to a portal for chaos, as continued disregard for the principles of natural justice and humanity, is a drive down a slippery slope.

These deviants can no longer be disregarded because they ever so frequently throw spanners in the wheels of our nation building.

I therefore call for a thorough and impartial investigation into this tragic incident to ensure that all those responsible are swiftly brought to justice. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be held accountable for their actions, and measures must be taken to prevent such atrocities from recurring in the future.”

Bishop Onuoha also decried the proliferation of security checkpoints in the South East geopolitical zone, and called for a review of the sad development.

“What is even more concerning is the incredible number of checkpoints between Imo River (Rivers/Abia boundary) and the Abia/Enugu boundary.

” Spots that have sadly become synonymous with evil and all kinds of lawlessness; especially the use of our innocent little boys as “undercover toll-gate collectors.”

“It is a national shame that such minors grow up never knowing anything but the brutality, corruption, and crime they are exposed to by supposed uniformed men.

“What has become of our humanity? How long will these evil continue? How much more can Nigerians swallow? How can we honestly reform the system without vilifying or eliminating those who stand up or show up with standards?’