By Cajetan Mmuta
The activities of the rank and file of the Anambra State police command are currently in the eye of the storm as aggrieved family members of one Chinonso Omeh, a car wash operator arrested in Ogbunike toll gate, near Onitsha, have cried out for justice over the alleged death of their son in police detention.
The family alleged that their son was killed while in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCOD) Annex, Awkuzu in Oyi local government area.
Narrating the incident, Mr. Onyebuchi Omeh, elder brother to late Chinonso, who raised the alarm while addressing newsmen in Onitsha on Wednesday said his younger brother (Chinonso), aged 30 years, was arrested on 4th February 2022 at the instance of one Austin Izunnwanne on trumped up charges of threat to life.
The deceased until his death operated a car wash centre at Ogbunike former Toll gate.
He said Chinonso was detained at Ogidi Police Station before his transfer to Awkuzu but police at Awkuzu denied them access to see him in the cell, stressing the officers had initially denied ever having him in their custody.
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He disclosed that after repeated attempts to see him at Awkuzu state CID Annex failed, the family wrote a petition to the AIG in charge of Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra state through a lawyer and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) at Ogidi was summoned and he gave a graphic account of how, when and whom he handed Chinonso over to at Awkuzu.
He said when the team from Awkuzu was also summoned to Zone 13 Ukpo, they confessed that Chinonso was in their custody but is dead now having slumped in their cell and later pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
Onyebuchi disclosed that when they requested to see his corpse, they were taken to a private mortuary and shown the corpse of a 70 year old man in place of their brother, Chinonso.
Onyebuchi alleged that the police at Awkuzu state CID Annex might have killed his brother and used him for ritual purposes since they cannot produce his corpse.
He said the last time they had appointment with the police team investigating the matter at Zone 13, Ukpo, they were totally surprised to hear that the two policemen from Awkuzu, the IPO, Michael Nelson and his team leader known as Big Sam who handled their brother’s matter earlier detained over the case have been released and they are now walking freely.
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The family however called for justice over the matter, insisting that the police should come clean and tell them what happened to their brother and also show them the corpse if he is actually dead.
They also called on various human right bodies to assist them ensure that those involved in the heinous crime do not escape the wrath of the law.
The Zonal Command Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 13, Ukpo, Nkiruka Nwode when contacted said she has not been briefed on the extent of investigation on the matter.
She promised to make enquiries and act accordingly.
