A former Divisional Police Officer, Ohafia Police Station, has disclosed why the Police Force delayed in visiting the family of a victim that was shot dead by a trigger happy policeman.
Recall that AF-NEWS reported of a petition brought before the Abia State panel of inquiry on the alleged murder of one Mr Friday Arunsi by a police officer, PC Christopher Ugwu.
CSP Wetben Daniel who was serving as a DPO as at April 17, 2020, but currently with the Area Command Ohafia police Division, appeared before the panel today, April, 14, as a defense witness.
In his witness, Daniel said;
” On April 17, at about 23:00hours(11pm), I received a call from one Inspector Mathew Thompson attached to Area Command, informing me that one PC Christopher Ugwu had fired somebody.
” I immediately picked up my phone to call the Area Commander, ACP Toyin Suleman. Unfortunately, his lines were not going through. I called the second in command, DSP(District Supritendant of Police) Geoffrey Eze, and he told me he is already aware and was going to the ACP’s house.
” Not quite long, the Area Commander called me that I should come to his house and pick him. I drove to his house, picked him up and we drove to Mbem hospital.
” On arrival at the hospital, the Area Commander met the doctor attending to the victim, Friday Arunsi. The doctor said they were making efforts to arrest the bleeding. The doctor advised that the victim should be taken to Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, for proper treatment.
” The Area Commander brought out N50,000, gave to the relations of the victim and directed an Inspector to follow them to the hospital” the witness said.
While being cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mrs Ngozi Ukweni, the witness said no compensation has been paid to the victim’s family by the Nigerian Police force to the best of his knowledge.
On why the police didn’t visit the family of the deceased, CSP Daniel said;
” On April 18, when we got the news of his demise at about 4pm, we were supposed to go for condolence but mobs attacked the police stations at Ohafia including Area Command, Magistrate court, High Court, Ministry of Commerce, even my quarters, car and properties were all burnt.
” But after some time, I in the company of the AIG visited the family of the deceased, that is the family he was living with before his death”.
Responding to the whereabout of PC Ugwu;
” Ugwu is currently in the correctional centre. After the incident, he was arrested, detained, and charged to court for the murder of one Ifeanyi Friday Arunsi
” The rifle Ugwu used in committing the murder was owned by one Collins who left his rifle in his house and went out to buy something” Daniel said.
Responding, the Chairman, Justice SN Imo, (retd) noted that there is need to limit access to fire arms by non superior police officers. He charged the Nigerian Police Force to take up measures to ensure that innocent lives are not lost.
The matter was adjourned for further recommendation by the panel.
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