The Abia state house of assembly has frowned at the extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens by security agencies in the state. The house expressed its displeasure over the attitude of trigger drunk corps following a motion of urgent public importance raised by Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro, Member representing Obingwa West State Constituency during plenary on Wednesday, 1st December 2021.
In the motion which was about extra judicial killings, harassment and extortion by men of the Nigeria Police in his Constituency especially by men of the Force at Ohuru Isimiri police station, the lawmaker narrated how one of his constituents, Mr Ugochukwu Chinyere, a young graduate was shot by men of the Nigeria Police in a fatal incident at their illegal checkpoint in Umukalika axis in Obingwa Local Government Area.
Hon. Nkoro said Mr Ugochukwu Chinyere later lost his life in the hospital despite frantic efforts made to save him. The legislator stated that motorists in his constituency now live-in fear because none of them knows the uncertainty that might befall them from the hands of the trigger-happy policemen in their area. He prayed the House to urge the Commissioner of Police in the State to fish out the officers that committed this heinous crime. He also prayed the House to advise policemen in the state to stop using live ammunition on innocent citizens. Hon. Nkoro also requested the house to mandate the Commissioner of Police to expedite action by instructing his men to dismantle all illegal road blocks in the State.
After inputs from Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, Hon Okey Igwe and Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, the Speaker Rt.Hon. Chinedum Orji commiserated with the family of the late Ugochukwu Chinyere and prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
The Speaker on behalf of the house mandated the Attorney-General of the State to speedily step into the matter and find out the remote and immediate causes of the sad incident with a view to ensuring that justice is served in the matter. The speaker Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji who presided over Wednesday’s plenary also implored the Commissioner of Police in the State to do the needful by constituting a panel that will look into the matter so that the officers involved in the killing will be fished out and subjected to the laws of the land for the sake of justice.
The house also during Wednesday’s plenary considered the supplementary budget proposal sent to it by the executive. The Bill after passing through legislative processes and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, the Bill, H.A.B 49, passed First Reading.
The House also received an invitation from Hon Jerry Uzosike, Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, who invited the Speaker and the Honorable Members to the commissioning and handover of a bungalow built and furnished by him in conjunction with Ogechi Care Foundation for a widow and her four children. The event is slated for Thursday, 9th December, 2021 at Umuajata Village, Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area.
