Tony Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has refuted that an officer of the Department of State Services killed a man, identified as the only son in Ogidi in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, on Friday, titled: “Murdered man NOT shot by Security Agents. Assailant Arrested and Weapon recovered by the Police” , the command described earlier reports purporting that the victim was killed by a DSS officer as misleading.
The PPRO’s statement reads, “Attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading story in the Punch Newspaper Online and other mediums purporting that security agents from Department of State Services were responsible for the murder of a middle aged man in Ogidi on 16th March, 2023.
“The Command owes a duty to the public to correct the erroneous report.
“The deceased was shot by a member of the Vigilante group in the area. On receiving the report at about 0200hrs, the Police moved in swiftly and effected arrest of the assailant who was found with a Pump Action Gun.
“The assailant was disarmed and taken into custody for interrogation and comprehensive investigation.
“CP Election for Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye while commiserating with family of the deceased, wishes to assure the public that investigation into the homicide will be swift and thorough and the assailant arraigned in court to face justice.
“He thanked the youths of Ogidi for ensuring their protest was peaceful. He also appreciated the traditional rulers who mediated to calm frayed nerves.
“He urged the people to remain law abiding as the Police in the The command will always protect their fundamental human rights.”
