Mr. Onyekachi Nwogu who hails from Umuokoro, Umuokpo village in Obingwa LGA, Abia State has been shot and killed by an officer of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified as Inspector Robinson Otobong Abel.
The incident, it was gathered happened in front of late Nwogu’s family compound.
Infonet9ja.com reports that the timely intervention of soldiers from the Army checkpoint at Ohanaeze area of the same LGA saved the life of the officer who was about to be lynched by the angry youths that had beaten him to stupor, leaving him with bruises.
The officer is said to have been detained at the Umuobiakwa Police Division for safe keeping, while his gun which was allegedly snatched by the youths was recovered by the army personnel.
The body of the deceased is said to have been deposited at the mortuary of Christian Hospital, Nlagu in Obingwa LGA.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Janet Agbede couldn’t be reached at the time of filing the report, but a source from the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) who spoke anonymously confirmed the incident.
A Senior Officer at the State Command of the NSCDC that pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorized to speak with the press also confirmed the incident, but however, added that the said officer isn’t serving under the command.
Narrating the incident, the source who thanked the Commanding Officer 144 Battalion, Major Sunday Fejo and his men on duty at the Army Camp Ohanze for their prompt response to a distress call said that investigation into the matter has been taken over by the police.
The NSCDC source who relied on the available reports at the time of this report said “the officer (of NSCDC) was going to Akwa Ibom from Port Harcourt with some Chinese road construction expatriates.
“From what we gathered, the expatriates because of the bad state of Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, they joined other commercial buses to use some of the local roads that cut-across some of the villages in Obingwa LGA close to the collapsed portions of the federal road which had served as entrance and exit routes in and out of Aba from Akwa Ibom.
“On getting to the said community, youths in the area used heavy wood to barricade the road, collecting tolls from drivers before allowing them passage.
The said officer alighted from the car and walked to youths, urging them to allow them passage, but the youths insisted that they must give them money before they could allow them to pass.
“Information has it that the officer while trying to fire a warning shot to scare away the youths who had already surrounded him, the bullet hit one of them and he died before he could be rushed to a Christian Hospital there.
“The youths attacked him and while they were trying to lynch him, soldiers from nearby army camp arrived at the scene and rescued him in a state of pulp.”
Meanwhile, the Abia State government through the commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu has called for call in the area and commended all the security agencies that ensured the arrest of the suspect.
Okiyi-Kalu in a chat said “Abia State Government wishes to express its deepest regrets over the unfortunate incident and condemn in totality this apparent act of carelessness and callousness that has led to the loss of yet another precious life under avoidable circumstances.
The Government wishes to express its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Nwogu.
“We commend vigilant community youth, men and officers of the Abia State Police Command and those of the Nigeria Army, for ensuring the prompt arrest of the suspect who is now in custody.
“Let us assure the family and friends of the late Mr Nwogu, and indeed, all Abians, that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that justice is swiftly done in this matter.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, who is deeply shocked to hear of the killing, expresses his sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Nwogu and will soon visit the bereaved family and community to personally convey his sympathy to them.
We wish to call on the youth of the affected community and others rightly pained by this sad incident not to take the law into their hands and avoid any act capable of provoking further violence or loss of lives as security agents have been fully deployed to maintain the peace and protect all law abiding citizens.”
