3 Policemen Detained over Murder of Father of Three in Onitsha

By Praise Chinecherem

Three policemen attached to Onitsha Police Area Command, Anambra State, were said to have been detained at Police headquarters, Awka, Anambra State, for allegedly killing a father of three, late Mr. Chibueze Samuel Nwakor, who lived at No. 15F Haruna St. Odoakpu/Sokoto road junction on 13th October, 2023, at about 6pm on the fateful day.

Counsel to the family, Barr. Anayo Emejue in a chat with newsmen on Sunday, said the deceased was shot dead without any provocation by three policemen led by one Jude Utazi on the fateful day.

He said, “We were told that the three policemen, attached to Onitsha Police Area Command have been dettained at 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, but he lived with his family at No. 15F Haruna St. close to Sokoto road junction, where he does business.

“He didn’t 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 commutter Hiace and zoomed off.

“The victim was rushed by his neighbours and friends to White Chapel hospital where the doctors later referred him to New Hope hospital and because of the severity of the bullet wounds he sustained he died before he could receive medical attention, thereby leaving his wife and three children to their fate.

“This is not even a case of torture or assault on the victim, not a case of trespass to the person but wilful murder of a citizen without any justification or provocation.

“The deceased wife wants the Nigerian Police to explain why she was forced into widowhood without notice.”

In a petition written to the Acting Inspector General of Police, wife of the deceased, Mrs Dorcas Nwakor, who is now a widow, and step- brother to the deceased, Obinna Nwakor, through their counsel, Barr. Anayo Emejue, said the accused policemen, led by one Jude Utazi, killed the deceased for allegedly refusing to answer questions put to him.

The petition was copied to Commissioner of Police Anambra, State Director of DSS, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abuja, Director, National Human Rights Commission Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, among others.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, CIC, Awka, Mr. Akin FA korede, in a letter to the counsel to 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 morque, Onitsha.

The petition from the Deputy Commissioner read in part: Investigation Activities. 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 24th October 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.”

Reacting, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said the incident is under investigation.