THE Abia State Police Command has apprehended an officer who killed an Abiriba-born businessman, Emmanuel Michael Okocha, in Aba.
According to reports, Okocha was shot dead along Aba-Owerri road in Aba, Abia, state for refusing to bribe some policemen at a checkpoint.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, on Saturday, April 21, revealed that Njok was attached to the Abayi Police Division before the incident happened.
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While describing the incident as ‘unfortunate’, the command said the corporal was apprehended, and necessary disciplinary procedures had been initiated.
The statement read: “Preliminary Inquiries into the matter reveal that a Police Corporal Obagi Njok, attached to Abayi Police Division under Abia State Police Command, shot at Mr Emmanuel Okocha along Aba-Owerri Road.
“The officer has been apprehended, and necessary disciplinary procedures have been initiated. Appropriate disciplinary actions and sanctions will be effected soonest, and he will face the full course of appropriate administrative and legal consequences.
“In this regard, representatives of the bereaved family and stakeholders will be carried along as the proceedings progress.
One too many…
The tragic killing of Okocha is not an isolated incident but a troubling pattern of police brutality and misconduct that has plagued the country over time.
Over the years, The ICIR has documented several instances of police brutality in the country and how it has led to the loss of lives and properties.
In December 2022, The ICIR reported how Nigerians expressed outrage over the death of a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was shot by an assistant superintendent officer in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Christmas Day.
The police officer was attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.
The unnamed policeman and his team were said to have tried to stop Bolanle and her family members as they drove back home from a Christmas Day church service.
Bolanle was shot when the car conveying her tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge.
The victim was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead.
Bolanle’s death also came barely three weeks after a young man, Gafaru Buraimoh, was shot dead by police officers attached to the same station in Lagos.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M