Abia community cries for justice over alleged killing of 3 youths by police

The people of Ntigha community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding justice over the alleged killing of three youths from the community by suspected police men.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Umuahia, Counsel to the community Dr. Anthony Agbazuere said the IG had acknowledged the petition and directed the Abia State Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter and report back to him.

A copy of the acknowledgement letter from the IG brandished by the constitutional lawyer dated March 13.

Agbazuere who was flanked by some leaders of the community including Hon. Obioma Onyensu, Nze Daniel Njoku, and Chief Omerenma Ubani, alleged that three police men had on March 5 stormed the community and started shooting sporadically killing three young men on the spot.

He gave the names of the victims as Adimchi Obiocha, Joseph Nwokocha, and Obinna.

The  human rights activists said the police men who were dressed in police uniform arrived the community in an unmarked Mecedece Benz and opened fire on their victims before zooming off in a commando style.

He said the Divisional Police Officer in the area was later contacted and he assisted in taking the victims to the hospital where they were confirmed dead.

Agbazuere explained that preliminary investigations by the DPO revealed  that  the invaders were three visiting mobile police men attached to the division, and that they used one of the cars parked at the station during the attack.

He however said that the suspects - two Inspectors and a Sergeant - had already been arrested and taken into custody by the police at the Criminal Investigation Department Umuahia.

The lawyer who said security personnel should not be allowed to get away with extra judicial killing called on the IGP to ensure the culprits are brought to book.

He said "every life is sacred and nobody should be allowed to kill others and go free ", regretting that instead of protecting lives and property some security personnel had turned into terror to lives.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna did not yield fruit as he did not pick call put to his cell phone even though they all rang out.

He also had not called back as at the time of filing this report.