A yet to be identified Policeman attached to the Eziama Division in Aba, Abia state, has killed a Port Harcourt, Rivers state based Computer Engineer, identified as Mr. Ikeokwu Onyemaechi, for refusing to hand over his motorcycle to the Police.
According to an eyewitness, the incident which took place at the Umuola road junction on the ever busy Ikot Ekpene road saw the policemen who sat in a Police patrol shooting the deceased on his forehead as his colleagues argued with him over his motorcycle.
Trouble started for the late Onyemachi and his friend simply identified as Okike, natives of Abala Village in Obingwa local government, when they were on their way back to the village after depositing the body of Okike’s father who died early Wednesday at Group Medical Practice (GMP) mortuary when the police team accosted them demanding the motorcycle.
According to the eyewitness, “the late man and his friend made several efforts explaining that they just deposited the corpse of Okike’s father at the mortuary, but the police wont listen. I was passing by and stopped because of the heated argument. The other guy even brought out N1, 000 and offered the Police, but they refused to collect and insisting that they must be taken to the Station. Before we knew what was happening, we heard a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. He was shot on the forehead; his skull was completely shattered. I think it was one of the Policemen sitting inside the car that shot him.”
247ureports.com gathered that the trigger happy cop and his colleagues immediately fled the scene when their evil act dawned on them.
Onyemaechi who is a father of two children was immediately rushed to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital,(ABSUTH) Aba, but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctors.
When news filtered into Abala Village that Onyemaechi has been shot dead by the Police, their youths rushed to the scene and embarked on a protest and took the corpse to the gate of the Eziama Police Division. The situation caused gridlock on the Ikot Ekpene road as the Abala youths spoiled for war, demanding that the trigger happy policeman be handed over to them.
One of the protesting youths said,” Onyemachi just came home for the Christmas and New Year celebrations with his wife and two children. He is a Port Harcourt based computer engineer. We would have all come to town with him and one of our brothers, Okike whose father died this morning. They took his body to GMP mortuary to deposit it and while they were heading home with the motorcycle, the Police stopped them. They told them that they just deposited Okike’s at the GMP mortuary which is a stone throw from the scene of the incident, but they refused to listen.
“How can a Policeman just pull a gun to shoot him dead? Look at the way his skull was shattered. It is too unbecoming for the Police in this town. Abala youths will certainly avenge this death.”
As at 6pm, the youths were still protesting on the road while security agencies were being deployed to the area.
A motorist was overheard saying that the Abala youths who are feared in the area, would never allow the incident to pass by without avenging the death of their son. According to him,” Of course, you know what Abala people can do. I think the Police should better be careful with how they handle this incident because these people can do anything no matter the number of security agents you set against them. You know why they are feared. Lets us see what happens next. Policemen in this area are in trouble.”
When his reaction was sought, Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) of the Abia State Command, Ezekiel Udeviotu Onyeke said that the Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila, is angry over the incident and has directed the DPO, Eziama Division, to fish out the trigger happy policeman and his colleagues and assured that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
