By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday said they were not involved in the alleged cult-related killings in Awka, the State Capital.
The Police through the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known to journalists at the State Command’s Headquarters Amawbia while reacting to a protest stage by the people of Awka communities accusing two senior officers of the command of aiding the menace in Awka and it environ.
The Paradise News gathered that indigenes from Ezina-ano (4 quarters), Umuoukpu (1 quarter), Ezi-Awka (7 quarters), Amikwo (5 quarters) and Agulu-Awka (7 quarters) that constitute the state capital, has stage a peaceful protest to demand the immediate removal of DC Akin Fakorode, in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (State-CID) and Inspector Monday Umana, who is also working in the department.
Spokesperson of the protesters Hon. Chief Richard Onourah, who address Newsmen shortly after the protest, said they are protesting to let the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetoku, the state police Commissioner, Mr. Adeoye Aderemi and the general public to know the atrocities the above mentioned Officers have committed in Awka and it environ.
Read Also: Court declines to vacate judgment restraining NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations
He said that the protest was a peaceful demonstration to appeal to the police authority to replace the two Officers with new personnel that has human sympathy with immediate effect.
According to him, the protest concerned the constant killings and other major crime waves here in Awka. We are asking the IGP and Police Service Commission (PSC) to please removed DC Akin Fakorode and Inspector Umana, because, we, the elders and leaders of this protesting quarters, housing 20 villages that form Awka capital, observed that most of the unholy activities in this town is been aided by the two Officers. They are they ones masterminding the acts.
They also destabilize our local security outfit, know as “Blue Shed” established to get raid of criminalities in the city for their selfish interest.
“We are tire of burying our children. We want peace in our town. We are helpless, the Police authority should come to our rescue,” Chief Onourah appealed.
Reacting further, the PPRO denied the allegations, saying that the two Officers in question can not involved in such act, noting that they were part of the security operatives that return peace to Awka metropolis.
While commending the people for the peaceful protest, he however assured them that the Command under the leadership of CP Adeoye Aderemi, will investigate all the allegations and come out with a report.
“The allegations will not demoralize our effort in protecting lives and properties of Ndi Anambra.”
He said the Police will continue to work in partnership with other sister agencies, the State own Vigilante, Community/religion leaders and other relevant stakeholders to sustained the peaceful atmosphere the state is currently breeding.
He noted that through the effort of the Police, stakeholders in many communities including Ogidi and Obosi communities that were known for leadership tussle and high rate of crimes has been finally harmonized.
Ikenga, also commended the media in the state for always balancing their reports especially, on issues like this.
It was also gathered that the protesters barricade old Enugu-Onitsha expressway for hours with various inscriptions such as; “DC Akin Fakorode must go”, “Anambra need honest police officers”, “remove bad eggs from our Police”, “Akin Fakorode is a corrupt officer, Inspector Monday Umana is a criminal, he takes bribe”, “DC Akin Fakorode is causing insecurity in Awka”, among others.
