On Thursday, July 27, a Mercedes Benz 1513 Lorry with Reg. No. ANAMBRA 859 GDD lost control and knocked down a woman and 3 children along Onitsha/Owerri Road by Bontus Group, where men of the Nigerian Police Force has a nipping point.
The woman and her three children died on the spot. As a result, angry youths barricaded the road accusing the policemen of being responsible for the accident.The mob also set four other vehicles ablaze and damaged part of the premises of Bontus Group.
The violent mob prevented the police from recovering the bodies. Some misguided elements numbering over one hundred went on rampage and attacked a Police check point at KM 4/6 along Onitsha/Owerri Road manned by the visiting Police mobile unit attached to 3PMF Enugu, killing on the spot one SGT Uchenna Ezike while on duty.
Police teams from the Area Comd/Div/DOPs Awka eventually calmed the situation after tearsmoke was deployed to disperse the mob. 13 persons were arrested, corpses of victims were evacuated to Toronto Hospital Onitsha. The Police also conveyed the body of Sgt. Uchenna Ezike who was attacked by the mob to the same hospital but he was declared dead on arrival. Acting on information, his service rifle was recovered from one Paul Igwe at No.1 Ebuka Street Okpoko.
Below is the statement issued by ASP Nkiruka Nwode, the spokesperson for Anambra State Police Command. Also see videos from eyewitnesses:
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, MURDER, ARSON AND MALICIOUS DAMAGE
On the 27/7/2017 at about 1200hrs,the Anambra State police Command received a distress call that Misguided elements numbering over One hundred went on rampage and attacked a Police check point at KM 4/6 along Onitsha/Owerri Road manned by the visiting Police mobile unit attached to 3PMF Enugu, killing on the Spot one SGT Uchenna Ezike while on duty,took away his AK 47 rifle, set ablaze four vehicles and destroyed part of Bontus group.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was caused by a moving Lory Mercedes Benz 1513 with REG No ANAMBRA 859 GDD which lost control at the Check point and knocked down a yet to be identified woman and three other children.
Meanwhile, following the distress call, Police Patrol teams led by DPO Okpolo rushed to the scene, restored normalcy in the Area and arrested thirteen suspects, including One Paul Igwe male of No 1 Ebuka street okpoko in whose custody the deceased Police rifle was recovered.
The Commissioner of Police CP Garba Baba Umar Psc has ordered for a full scale investigation in order to ascertain the actual cause of the incident and fish out all perpetrators of this dastardly act.
However, all the four victims including the police officer have been taken to Toronto Hospital Onitsha for medical attention but were certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor and their corpses deposited at the mortuary for postmortem examination.
Finally, Members of the Public are strongly warned to refrain from taking laws into their hands as the command will deal decisively with any individual or groups found wanting in accordance with the Law.
