Blood on Uniforms (3): In Nigeria’s South-east, no justice for people killed during COVID-19 lockdown
At least 20 people were extra-judicially killed by security operatives during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria last year. 15 min read
In the third part of this series, Kemi Busari investigates the extra-judicial killings in South-eastern Nigeria during last year’s COVID-19 lockdown. Read the first part of the series
here, and the second part
When Chibuisi Okameme, a filling station attendant, left home for work on April 5, 2020, three dreams were his likely motivation: the need, in collaboration with his other siblings, to build a house for his ageing mum, the desire to get wedded to his fiancée soon and the burning aspiration to further his education which had stalled for a long time.
With the help of a soldier who incidentally was at the filling station at the time, the fleeing officers, attached to Ohuru-Isimiri Police Divisional Headquarters, were tracked down and mandated to provide medication for Chibuisi but it was late already.
He died shortly after being taken to Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba.
Still on rough road to justice
Chibuisi’s elder brother, Kelechi Okameme, wedded on April 4. He was barely 24 hours into his honeymoon when he received the call announcing Chibuisi’s death.
A few months earlier, both siblings had drawn an estimate and agreed to commence a building project which they intended would benefit their mum.
The suspect
The Police Command in Anambra has arrested one Nonso Eze, 37, for allegedly pushing a lady to her death from his apartment on the fifth floor of a 5-storey building.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Awka.
Mohammed said the incident occurred at about 3a.m. on Saturday at No. 6 Orakwe Close, Fizzle, Awada-Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman, who noted that the matter was reported to Awada Police Station at about 6:30a.m. of same day, said the victim, yet to be identified, was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
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Men of the Anambra StatePolice Command have arrested a 37-year-old man, Nonso Eze, for allegedly pushing his 23-year-old girlfriend from a 5-storey building located in Awada, Onitsha, on Saturday, January 23, 2020.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, Haruna Mohammed, disclosed that at about 6:30 am on Saturday morning, men of the Awada Police Station received a report that at about 3 am, the victim fell from the 5th floor of the 5-storey building located at N0.6 Orakwe close, fizzle Awada Obosi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.
The PPRO said when the officers visited the scene, they photographed the victim and rushed her to Bex hospital Onitsha for medical attention, however, she was certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor.
The spokesman, who noted that the matter was reported to Awada Police Station at about 6:30a.m. of same day, said the victim, yet to be identified, was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
“Police operatives attached to Awada Division visited the scene, photographed the victim and rushed her to a hospital in Onitsha for medical attention but was certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor.
“Consequently, preliminary inquiry from the occupants of the compound revealed that the girl was allegedly pushed down from the room of one Nonso Eze, 37, of same address following a quarrel,” he said.