The family of a murdered truck driver in Abia State, Chinedu Ukwu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in their quest for justice.
The shooting, the death
Mr Ukwu, a father of four, died on August 14 after being hit by a stray bullet during a shootout between two police teams in Aba, Abia State.
He hailed from Ikpeze-Uno, Arondizuogu, a community in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State but resided in Aba.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the shootout occurred between police patrol teams from the Police Area Command in Aba and another police team from Umuahia, the state capital.
Residents said the officers appeared to have been mistaken for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the area.
In an August 15 statement, state police spokeswoman Maureen Chinaka said law enforcement authorities had launched investigations into the incident.
Ms Chinaka, a deputy superintendent of police, said there was “no credible evidence to suggest that the police officers mistook them for IPOB members and fired at each other”.
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“What we can confirm is that a shooting took place in that area, in which one civilian was killed,” he said.
IPOB, a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra from the southeast and some parts of south-south Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions.
Demand for justice
In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Daniel Ukwu, head of the family and brother of the slain driver, called on President Tinubu to help secure justice for the victim.
Daniel said the victim's death was due to the “imprudence” of the police teams.
“We are saddened by the death of our son.
“We demand justice and we demand that those involved in the murder of our son be held accountable,” she said.
Daniel said Ukwu’s death has created a “huge void” as he was the breadwinner of his family.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to our aid and help us ensure that justice is done in this matter,” he appealed.
'The police are not serious'
Daniel later told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the police at the Ugwunagbo divisional headquarters were yet to release the body of the victim.
The family head said the divisional police officer in charge of the case, instead of visiting the grieving family, asked them to come to his premises on Tuesday for a meeting.
He said the police had not taken the matter seriously because the family had no one to speak for them.
Daniel said similar meetings called by police did not take place on two separate occasions.
“This is not the first time that they have scheduled a meeting with us. It is possible that the police will postpone it again on Tuesday,” he said.
The police speak
When contacted on Saturday, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Ms Chinaka, said the victim was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between police officers and some hoodlums.
The spokesman suggested there was no evidence the stray bullet came from police officers.
He said the family should write to the state police commissioner or have a physical meeting with him if they were not satisfied with the way the police authorities at the Alaoji Divisional Police Headquarters were handling the matter.
Ms Chinaka said police have taken possession of the victim's body for investigation.
“It was a tragedy. I stand in solidarity with the family,” he said.