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Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has received information from family members and other relatives of one Mr. David Okoro concerning his alleged extrajudicial killing by the Police and attempt to defame him in death by framing him with the allegation of kidnapping in a cover -up bid.
The victim’s family members informed NOPRIN that on the 12th June, 2016 the victim, Mr. David Okoro, a well-known meat seller at Iheagwa market in Owerri, lmo State, and who hails from Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of lmo State went for a burial ceremony at his maternal home- Obosima in Owerri, lmo State.
That the deceased was asked to supply meat worth eighty thousand naira (N80, 000) which was used to cook food served to guests who attended the burial ceremony at his maternal home.
That after the burial, the deceased left, heading back to Iheagwa market for his business and had with him the sum of eighty thousand naira (N80,000) paid to him for the meat he supplied, in addition to other money he had before, all amounting to about two hundred thousand naira (N200,000).
That few minutes after he left on his motorcycle, and before he could get back to Iheagwa market, information reached his family members that David had been shot by the police.
That his family members immediately ran to the scene where they saw David’s lifeless body inside a Police Hilux Pickup with his motorcycle inside the police van.
That the family followed the police van as the police carried the body to Asa village from where they ended up at Umuagwo Police Station.
That the police officers, on realising that David’s maternal uncle, Anthony witnessed the incident resulting to David’s death, arrested and detained him with the purpose of intimidating him and other family members not to seek accountability and justice for the murder of their brother/son.
That the family strongly believes that the police cornered David and killed him in order to collect the money they found on him and that they (the police) then decided to cover their atrocious act by framing David with a kidnapping allegation, threatening to go to his family compound to demolish his family house.
That the family states unequivocally that David was well-known in the area where he resided, as well as in the market where he did business, as a meat dealer, and had no record of involvement in any crime, let alone, as heinous a crime as kidnapping.
That the police have not presented any shred of evidence to substantiate their afterthought allegation of kidnapping against a responsible and innocent man.
That two days after the police murdered David, his family members including his maternal uncle who witness his killing and his aged, traumatised and helpless father, Mr. Remigus Okoro, went to Umuagwo police station where they saw his motorcycle still parked within the station, and they lodged a formal complaint to DPO.
That the DPO is defending his men on duty on the fateful day -12th June, 2016.
That the family hereby calls on the Inspector General of Police to order a prompt, impartial and exhaustive investigation into what they believe to be brutal, extrajudicial killing of Mr. David by officers at Umuagwo Police Station.
NOPRIN trusts that the IG will ensure a credible investigation into this case and ensure that there is no cover up, and that if found to be true, the perpetrators will be brought to account and adequate compensation paid to the family of the victim.
