Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar
By Chiemelie Ezeobi
The special team instituted by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the death of 36-year Ugochukwu Ozuah, who was allegedly murdered by policemen in Lagos, has pledged to examine the case transparently without bias.
Led by Mr. Chris Ezike, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), the team made this pledge during a visit to the bereaved family home in Ikeja over the weekend.
It would be recalled that the deceased was allegedly murdered on Thursday, September 11, in front of UPS office in Gbagada barely five days after his wedding to his wife, Joan.
While suing for calm to allow investigation run its due course, the DCP said they were called in because the IG wanted people that were neutral to the case.
He said, “The IG sent us here because we are neutral and professional. Already, the police in Lagos have been fingered in the said crime and it would not be right for them to act as judges over a matter against them.
“We will visit the crime scene, the mortuary and also the Anthony Police Station from where the said policemen are from and then we will carry out forensic investigation.”
He added, “We will inspect the corpse as well to determine the point of bullet entry and exit. Although we are not magicians, we will do our best. The investigation will be like that of a collapsed building. We will reconstruct the crime scene like a collapsed building and put clues together.”
He however urged the deceased’s family to come forward with any information they had as regards the case that would help the cause of investigation.
While speaking, the deceased’s sister and spokesperson for the family, Mrs. Nkechi Nonyelu, harped on the need for reforms in the police force that would curb the incessant and unwarranted extra-judicial killings.
She said, “Our family just lost the only son. My brother was intelligent and could have even become president of Nigeria but his life was cut short. My mother had lost a son before and just lost her husband.
“Police killings must stop and things must change. The police need to start having human feelings and respect the sanctity of the lives of the Nigerians they have sworn to protect.
“They claimed my brother was attacked by armed robbers yet his phones and other valuables remained intact. The police was at the scene yet watched my brother bleed to death.”
Decrying the incessant extra-judicial killings by the police, she said a foundation would be set up in honour of the deceased which would be geared to help families in similar circumstances.