From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Assistant Commissioner of Police, late ACP Oliver Innoma-Abbey who was brutally killed by suspected members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Anambra State has been buried amidst tears by family members, colleagues, friends and wellwishers at his home town in Epelema, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It would be recalled that ACP Inoma-Abbey, Area Commander Oraifite in Anambra State, was burnt to death by the dreaded extremists alongside Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Commander in Ichi, CSP Patrick Agbazue on December 2, 2019 at Oraifite.
It was gathered that following a formal complaint against a member of the IPOB in Oraifite on alleged case of abduction, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage to property, the late Inoma-Abbey led a team of Officers to the scene in order to arrest the suspect who allegedly declined Police invitation.
It was further gathered that as soon as Police arrived the scene, armed men suspected to be IPOB members descended on the police, set a patrol vehicle ablaze and attacked them with rifles and machetes. As a result of the attack, the two police officers were killed by suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts.
However, the remains of ACP Inoma-Abbey was on Saturday returned to mother earth at his hometown.
Earlier, during a service of song in preparation for his burial on Thursday at Ambassador of Christ Assembly Church, Port Harcourt, the presiding pastor, Prophet Godswill Abbey encouraged Christians to be ready at all time, stressing that people die to await rapture.
He condemned the way the Police Chief was killed two years to his retirement in office.
Prophet Abbey focused his sermon on Luke 16: 19 – 31 said: ‘When the time comes when we will no longer be in this world, we will recognise ourselves again in the next world.
“The church is facing revival. We may not physically see rapture but may meet it when we die. This world is as empty as nothing.
“He wasn’t sick, a group of people, illiterate that haven’t seen the first wall of education killed him. A man who have served 33 years in the force, two years to his retirement, he was brutally killed in Anambra.
“Oliver Innoma Abbey is dead today who knows the next person. We need to support the church, the church is the only reason Jesus Christ has not come”, he added.
Speaking with The AUTHORITY at the event, Bishop Moses Omonkhule, Vice Chairman of Police Community Relation Committee, in Rivers State Police Command, said “It was a very painful act by the murders. It was barbaric, is unacceptable, we are not happy about it but we believe by the grace of God the perpetrators will be brought to book. They will never escape it, God will allow them go free.
“The gvernment should also work hard to make sure that they also protect the people that are protecting lives and properties. This man is protecting the nation, the same nation he is protecting is the one that killed “.
Meanwhile, wife of the deceased, CSP (Dr) Rita Inoma-Abbey has committed the incident to the will of God.
She said “It is the Lord’s will. The Lord gives and takes life. If God did not will a thing it won’t happen.”
