From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The Federal lawmaker representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Engr. Chijioke Stanislaus Okereke has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 13, Mr Tony Olofu and the Enugu State Police Commissioner, Kanayo Uzuegbu, to conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged killing of three suspected members of IPOB/ESN, who attempted to enforce the banned ‘sit-at-home’ in Ezioha community, Awgu local government area of Enugu state, last Monday, September 18.
Hon Okereke said he is seeking the attention of both the IGP, AIG Zone 13 and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police to get to the root of the matter and the circumstances, based on conflicting reports published in some online media outfits and subsisting public outcry regarding the incident.
In his reaction, Hon Okereke recounted that he received troubling reports from one of the remote and serene communities in his federal constituency. Since thereafter, his phone has been bombarded with calls from constituents with various forms of claims and allegations of extra-judicial killings against the security agencies. But he pleads to all to remain calm while he beckons on the higher authorities to conduct an in depth investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding the harrowing reports.
His words, ‘The series of claims and allegations on the incident which occurred at Ezioha Mgbowo community in Awgu local government area of Enugu state on Monday, September 18, is very worrisome. The conflicting reports from the public and in some sections of the media, contradicting the statement credited to the spokesman of the security agencies is also confusing. As a federal lawmaker who believes in the rule of law, I am pleading with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), AIG Zone 13 and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police to diligently carry out thorough investigations to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.
Hon Okereke who is the House Committee Deputy Chairman on Research and Institutions also called on the people of Ezioha community to remain calm, assuring that the matter will be followed up for comprehensive investigation. He further appealed to the Youths of the community and the whole of Aninri/Awgu/Oji River federal constituency to be law abiding and avoid activities that will put them into open confrontation with the security agencies while this matter is being resolved.
A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) known as the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, in their published report in a widely read online newspaper accused the security agencies of unlawful killing. In a statement signed by its board chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umehe, heading Democracy and Good Governance, Obianuju Joy Igboeli (Head Civil Liberties and Rule of Law), the group demanded from the police and military authorities the summary of the alleged execution of three Youths from Ezioha Mgbowo in Awgu local government area of Enugu state.
The NGO stated, “From our checks including contacts made to reliable sources in Mgbowo, the circumstances leading to the killings including their timing, legal and operational basis, have been mired in controversies”.
The Enugu state police command in a press statement made available to newsmen through the state police public relations officer(PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe(DSP) said a combined team of police operatives from the state police command, Personnel of the Special Forces of the Nigerian police force and troops from 82 division of Nigerian army, acting on a tip-off raided the hideout of IPOB/ESN at Ezioha Mgbowo community and neutralised the group as they were planning to enforce a ‘sit at home order’.
Ndukwe stated, “Three of the hoodlums who opened fire on the joint team upon sighting them were neutralized, while several others escaped with severe degrees of gunshot wounds in the ensuing fight”. He said the aftermath of the joint operations by the security agencies, three pump action guns, ten machetes and some other equipment belonging to the IPOB/ESN were recovered.
End.
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