By Tony Oraeki, Awka
The Youth leader of Ezinano community in Awka, Anambra state, Mr. Tochukwu Nwokoye has raised alarm concerning an alleged plan by the officer in charge of Rapid Response Sqaud, Awkuzu in Oyi local government area of the state,Supol Ifeanyi Iburu, by burying dead body on their land in order to incriminate the youths.
Nwokoye said that the Police Officer had accused the youths of Ezinano community of killing people and burying them in their land, thinking that nobody would know about such atrocity. That Supol Ifeanyi also threatened him, saying that if they could not locate any grave at the land,they would kill one person and bury him there, and the youth will answer the question.
Narrating his ordeal recently in the hands of officer incharge of Rapid Response Sqaud, Awkuzu,Supol Ifeanyi Iburu, Nwokoye, told our correspondent yesterday in the hospital where he was taking treatment, that he had a terrifying but horrible experience which he wouldn’t wish his worst enemy.
He said that they were in their ancestral land at Ezinano and suddenly ,a team of police men led by Supol Ifeanyi Iburu stormed the place, started shooting sporadically,ordering them to lie down or be shot dead.
According to him,he has not met Iburu before and does not know him, he wondered why he stormed their Ancestral land in a commando style forcing them to lie down or be killed.
” We were at our land at Ezinano on first of September 2024. We have plotted the land , fenced it ,even our women have planted cassava there. When we went there, we discovered that some people came with excavators and were destroying our crops, removing beacons.
” We sent our Youth Secretary to B division, in Awka ,to make entry along with the ladies who planted cassava there. The Divisional Police Officer in charge of B.division sent two policemen to know what was happening, before then we had stopped those people with excavator from destroying our crops and removing our beacons.
” As we were there, suddenly,we saw some people with guns shooting and asking us to lie down or risk being killed. We obeyed and they are about 15 in number. As the Youths leader,I asked them what was the problem, instead, they started beating me.
” One of the B Division officers sent by their DPO told them that they were there to investigate the problem, but at the same time, he was also beaten , describing him as one of the accomplice of criminalities in the town.
” They took me away to RRS headquarters at Awkuzu and after reaching Ukpor- Abba junction, Iburu started calling one Peter that he should bring out AK47 rifle from the armoury. When I asked him what was happening,he threatened to kill me and said we have been killing people and burying them in that land, thinking that nobody knows. He told me that if they could not trace any grave there,they will kill one person and bury him there, and we will answer the question.
” When we got to Awkuzu RRS Station,they brought out one AK 47 rifle, tried to hang it on my neck,I resisted it and they started beating me again and forcefully hung the gun on my neck and took pictures of me with the gun.
” After that, he ordered that I be sent to cell five, meanwhile,he had not taken any statement from me. As I got inside the cell,I saw about seven malnourished persons and they told me for three months they have not eaten. Not up 30 minutes, one died and they took him away. ” Nwokoye stated.
He further said that, ” At about 6.30 to 8 pm they called my name that I should wear my clothes. I worn my clothes,they started threatening to kill me again and I asked again , what is the problem? He said that we have been killing people and burying them in that land. He said that if they could not find any one ,they will bury one for us and show the AK47 he found with me.
” I never knew we were heading to the office of the State Commissioner of police and when we got there,the CP asked him whether he recovered the AK47 from me, he said no. He asked him again, whether he snapped me picture with AK, he said no,then, the CP directed he should go and release me.”
Nwokoye further expressed fears toward the alleged plots of Supol Ifeanyi Iburu against him considering so far he has gone to incriminate him with gun
One of the Community leaders of Ezinano, Chief Arinze Ekelem described Nwokoye as s patriotic son of Ezinano community.
According to him, Nwokoye loves his people and his people love him too, noting that whatever concern his people, concerns him.
He said that he was surprised when he learnt that awkuzu RRS arrested, detained and tortured hi
Ekelem equally expressed surprise that a rifle was hung on his neck and the Awkuzu police took pictures of him with the gun.
“We don’t need to quarrel with the Police,they are doing good jobs but they should do their work according to dictates of the Consitution.
RRS is not supposed to be involved in land matter,” he said.
He said that even if somebody had reported any infraction,the police should do their due investigation and not resorting to self help, threatening to kill and harassing innocent people.
He however cautioned that nothing happens to the young man, noting that though, Nwokoye is a human being, ” he should be entertaining some fears given his experience with the police.”
In reaction, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu
stated, ” Please let’s be professional and advise the accuser to come forward because this I suspect is a means to evade justice and distract police investigation.”
