By Ovat Abeng
Mrs Dorcas Nwakor, a resident of Haruna Street, Odoakpu by Sokoto Road in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, has petitioned the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged killing of her son, Chibueze Nwakor, by police officers attached to the Area Command in Onitsha.
In the petition, made available to journalists in Onitsha, on Monday, Mrs Nwakor, said Chibueze, her only son and father of three, was shot dead by the police officers around his residence on October 13, 2023, while he was going to his place of business.
She petitioned the acting IGP through her lawyer, Anayo Emejue and Associates, adding that her son, was shot dead without any provocation by three policemen, led by one Jude Utazi, on the fateful day.
The petition partly read, “It is our client’s instruction that on October 13, 2023, at Onitsha, Anambra State, a team of three police men shot their son, husband and brother, Mr Chibueze Nwakor, to death for no justifiable reason.
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“Chibueze, who lives at No. 15F Haruna Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, was shot to death by police men led by one Jude Utazi attached to Area Command, Onitsha, for allegedly refusing to answer their questions.
“After shooting him, the policemen jumped into their ash coloured commuter Hiace shuttle bus and zoomed off.
“The victim was rushed to the hospital by his neighbours, but because of the severity of the bullet wounds, he died before receiving medical attention, leaving behind his wife and three children. His corpse has been deposited at the mortuary.
“This is a case of wilful murder of a citizen without any justification or provocation.
“The mother and the wife of the deceased want the Nigeria Police to explain why their son/husband was killed and those responsible for the killing.”
The petition was also copied to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, State, Director of DSS, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Anambra, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abuja, the Director, National Human Rights Commission Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, among others.
Speaking to newsmen in his office on Monday, the counsel to the family, Anayo Emejue, confirmed that the deceased was shot dead on the faithful day without any provocation by three policemen led by one Jude Utazi.
He said, “We were told that the three policemen involved in the killing have been detained at the Police headquarters in Awka, but when we got to Awka, we saw them moving freely on the streets.
“This was a father of three who hailed from Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, but he lived with his family at No. 15F Haruna St. close to Sokoto Road junction, where he does business.
“He did not commit any offence, just that he refused to answer their questions and he was shot by trigger-happy policemen and they jumped into their ash coloured commuter Hiace and zoomed off.”
When contacted on the development on Monday, the state police public relations officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, adding that “the case is still under investigation”.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, Mr Akin Fakorede, in a letter written to the counsel for the bereaved family, urged him to be physically present for the autopsy of the deceased, billed for 12pm on Tuesday at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist hospital morgue, Onitsha.
The petition from the Deputy Commissioner read in part, “Notification of autopsy: Invitation to witness the autopsy of late Mr Chibueze Samuel Nwakor, of No. 15F Haruna St. Odoakpu Onitsha, murdered on 13/09/2023, post mortem examination to likely cause of death will be conducted on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 by 12pm at St. Charles Borromeo hospital mortuary.
“Accordingly, you are please invited to be physically present at the venue as a witness to the post mortem examination. If for any reason you can not be present, nominate appropriate person to represent you.”
