BY Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka

A car washer from the Moslem community, Ibagwa – Aka in Igbo Eze South Local Government Area, Enugu State has reportedly been killed over an alleged long standing crisis for the parallel formation and operations of police assisted neighborhood watch in the area.

Crime Guard learnt that the deceased, Shekuru Momoh Alhaji who hailed from Bida, Niger state was allegedly attacked by an opposing group of the neighborhood watch around 8pm last week at the Ibagwa– Aka motor park where he operates his car wash business. It was also gathered that he was beaten to pulp and rushed to Bishop Shanahan hospital, Nsukka the following morning where he died few hours later.

Speaking to Crime Guard, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers,NURTW, in the area,Danjuma Ali (aka Toronto) said the deceased spotted some members of the vigilante group carting away bags of palm Kernel in a truck from the market and he accosted them.

According to him, “they pounced on him and gave him a beating of his life. That led to his death. His assailants were dressed in navy blue and red beret and they were led by a former Chairman of Igbo Eze South L.G.A (names withheld) among others.  They always dress in the same attire while carrying out their nefarious activities in the area.”

The Monarch of Ibagwa – Aka community, Igwe Hyacinth Eze who also spoke on the issue said he was not around when the incident happened stating that the problem in the community has been the operations of the unapproved neighborhood watch.

He noted that he earlier petitioned the Enugu state Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, over false information, unlawful detention and illegal possession of security equipments by the group.  The traditional ruler described the death of Shekuru as ‘unfortunate’ stating that there has been no formal inauguration of neighborhood watch in the area.

Also contacted for comments, the Chairman, Igbo –Eze South L.G.A., Mr.Ozioko Festus said the problem in Ibagwa –Aka, headquarters of the Local Government has been security tussle, noting that the community is militant in nature and his local government has to tackle the problem head long.

He explained that he did not inherit any police assisted neighborhood watch upon assumption of office early this year, noting that he has plans to set up a vibrant neighborhood watch in various communities of the local government and not just Ibagwa –Aka.

He stressed that there was no neighborhood watch in the area before the murder of the Moslem car washer. However, a new twist was added to the case after police detectives in the area turned around to arrest the complainant in the case, Danjuma Ali together with three others as suspects in the case. The suspects were still undergoing interrogation at the divisional police station as at the time of going to press.

Efforts made to speak with the Divisional Police Officer,DPO, in-charge of the area proved abortive as he was said not to be on seat when Crime Guard visited, but a competent senior police officer who pleaded anonymity confirmed the death and arrests of the suspected persons including the complainant in the matter.