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Mrs Dorcas Nwakor, a resident of Haruna Street, Odoakpu near Sokoto Road in Onitsha, Anambra State, has filed a formal complaint with the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, regarding the reported killing of her son, Chibueze Nwakor, by police personnel affiliated with the Area Command in Onitsha.
Mrs Nwakor, in a petition made public to the press in Onitsha on Monday, described the tragic event where her son, Chibueze, who was a father of three, was shot and killed by police officers close to their house on October 13, 2023, as he was on his way to his workplace.
Mrs Nwakor, with the assistance of her legal counsel, Anayo Emejue and Associates, lodged the petition with the acting IGP, stating that her son was fatally shot by a group of three policemen, led by Jude Utazi, without any apparent provocation on the mentioned date.
The petition reads in part, ‘It is our client’s instruction that on October 13, 2023, at Onitsha, Anambra State, a team of three policemen shot their son, husband and brother, Mr Chibueze Nwakor, to death for no justifiable reason.’
‘Chibueze, who lives at No. 15F Haruna Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, was shot to death by policemen 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.’
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‘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.’
Furthermore, the petition was shared with the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Anambra, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Abuja, the Director of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, along with other relevant authorities.
Confirming the incident, the family’s counsel, Anayo Emejue, briefed journalists in his office on Monday, stating that the deceased was shot dead without any provocation by a trio of policemen, with Jude Utazi leading the group.
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.’
Despite repeated efforts, the Investigating Police Officer in the case, Azuka Moses, did not respond to calls and messages, leaving all attempts to reach her futile.
However, when contacted on the development on Monday, the Anambra State Police Spokesman, 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 noon on Tuesday, at the St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Morgue, Onitsha.
The letter 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 noon 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 an appropriate person to represent you.’
