The father of Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, the 11-year-old boy who was
allegedly shot dead by security agents during the demolition of
Owerri Main Market on August 27, 2017, has demanded a N20million
compensation from the state government.
Isaiah Ibeanusi, the bereaved father, who testified at a public
hearing on police brutality, corruption and abuse in southern
Nigeria, lamented the nonchalant attitude that the Police have
displayed in the handling of his son’s murder.
At the event, organised in Owerri by a civil rights group,
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Ibeanusi said it was
unfortunate that two years after his only son was killed through a
stray bullet, no efforts had been made to properly investigate the
incident and prosecute the killers.
He accused the Police and the government of paying lip service
to the killing of his only son.
Somtochukwu’s father, who asked for N20 million as compensation,
said the money would cover all the expenses he incurred, including
the burial expenses and N500,000 he reportedly paid for the
autopsy.
“The compensation would at least cushion the pains of the loss,”
he said. “I want a thorough investigation into the circumstance
that led to the killing of my only son. I want justice. I want his
killers to be brought to justice.”
In his presentation during the public hearing, Okechukwu
Nwanguma, National Coordinator of (NOPRIN), stated that the
foundation was committed to ensuring that police brutality and
corrupt tendencies are brought to an end.
Nwaguma disclosed that the aim of the public hearing was to make
sure that victims of police brutalities get justice.
“We want contributions to the ongoing advocacy and efforts to
reform and transform the Nigeria Police from a brutal regime force
to a democratic, professional, citizen-friendly, effective and
accountable police force that serves and protects the rights and
interest of the people,” he said.
“It is worrisome that despite the huge investment of resources,
time and energy by civil societies, government and international
development partners and foreign governments, police reform efforts
have yielded no significant improvement.
“On the part of government, there seems to be more rhetoric than
concrete actions. Even though when the government sets up police
reform committees, their recommendations are never wholeheartedly
implemented.”
Ibeanusi previously spoke of how, a few days after the incident,
two State Security Service (SSS) officials believed to be acting on
Governor Rochas Okorocha’s orders arrived at his home with an
unbelievable message.
“They said I should not tell anyone that my son was killed in
Imo, that I should instead tell anyone who asked me that the
incident occurred in Rivers State,” he had said.
“They promised to do heaven and earth for me if I complied, but
I shouted at them ‘over my dead body’. I told them I wouldn’t do it
even if they offered me N10 million. The two of them came again the
next day, around 4pm. I walked them out and told them I never
wanted to set my eyes on them again!”
He had also said that when Somto’s body was taken to his native
Anambra State for burial, Okorocha’s men were in attendance, too,
to offer him a compensation of N2million cash. But he rejected
it.
“I sent the money back and in addition I sent them two cartons
of malt!” he said.
Still desperate to placate Ibeanusi, the state government
renamed a part of the under-reconstruction market in honour of his
slain son. But it made no meaning to him, still.
“I saw it last week; they put it there: Somto Shopping Mall,” he
said in April 2018. “I found it disturbing; I just left the place.
You know, it’s just as if this tragedy happened two days ago; I
remember it but I don’t like to.”
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troops
Trooops Rescue Kidnapped Victims in Benue
State
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to counter banditary
activities in North Central Nigeria have rescued 3 kidnapped
victims in a building located at Gana’s family compound at Gbise in
Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims, a man and two women were rescued during a dawn raid
in the early hours of Friday 26 April 2019, when gallant troops
stormed a building reportedly belonging to a notorious bandits’
leader, Gana. The visibly traumatized victims claimed they were
abducted about 2 months ago at Gboko by a gang of kidnappers and
subsequently relocated to Gbise community.
Troops are are still on the trail of the criminals, who fled
their enclave after they were overpowered in a shootout with the
troops. Troops have also destroyed the building which served as the
kidnappers hideout.
The rescued persons have been handed over to authorities of
Benue State Government for medical attention before reuniting them
with their respective families.
Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to Giza in
Nasarawa State have arrested a bandit during a raid on a suspected
bandits’ hideout at Alima, near Kadarko in Nasarawa state. The
bandit, who was intercepted with a locally made rifle and some
quantity of gun powder is currently assisting in preliminary
investigations after which he will be handed over to an appropriate
prosecuting security agency.
Please disseminate this information to the general public
through your medium. Thank you for your kind cooperation.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information