THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has commenced investigations into the killing of a retired Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, Uwem Harold Udokwere.
Udokwere died after gunmen invaded Sunshine Homes Estate, Abuja, where he lived until his demise, for a robbery operation.
This was contained in a statement the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FCT Police Command Josephine Adeh sent to journalists late Saturday, June 22.
”In response to the tragic and unprecedented attack at Sunshine Homes Estate by armed robbers, resulting in the untimely demise of one Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwere (rtd.) on June 22, 2024, at approximately 03:00 a.m, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding this regrettable event.
“Expressing profound condolences to the bereaved family, CP Benneth Igweh psc, mni, assures the family and the public of swift justice, with every effort in conduit to ensure the perpetrators of the atrocious act are apprehended and brought to justice,” Adeh noted.
She also disclosed that further updates would be provided on the incident as investigations progress while assuring residents of the FCT of safety.
In January, barely six months ago, gunmen invaded the Army Estate in Abuja and abducted two residents in the process.
According to residents of the area, the kidnappers invaded the estate, shooting sporadically in the air and fled with the abductees before soldiers arrived at the scene.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had warned Area Council Chairmen in the FCT to be proactive about issues concerning security, vowing that insecurity would not be tolerated under his administration.
The warning came after FCT residents were confronted with an increase in the spate of abductions and insecurity within the Area Councils, especially Bwari and Kuje, towards the end of 2023.
The ICIR reported that some FCT residents had abandoned their homes due to several successful abductions by bandits within their communities.
Several kidnap cases were recorded in the FCT during the last Yuletide festivities, including the mass abduction of about 23 residents of Dei-dei, Bwari, and 12 others in Gbaupe, a rural community along the Airport Road.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.