Police plan to bury corpses on our land to incriminate us, community raises alarm

The Youth leader of Ezinano community in Awka, Anambra State state, Mr. Tochukwu Nwokoye has raised the alarm concerning an alleged plan by the officer in charge of Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu in Oyi local government area of the state, Supol Ifeanyi Iburu, to bury dead body on their land in order to incriminate them.

Nwokoye said that the Iburu had accused the youths of Ezinano community of killing people and burying them in their land, thinking that nobody would know about such atrocity.

He added that Supol I uru also threatened him, saying that if they could not locate any grave at the land,they would kill one person and bury him there, and the youth will answer for it..

Nwokoye was recently arrested by the RRS and detained at Awkuzu over a tussle about land ownership in Awka.

Narrating his ordeal recently in the hands of officer incharge of Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, Supol Ifeanyi Iburu, Nwokoye, told our correspondent yesterday in the hospital where he was taking treatment, that he had a terrifying but horrible experience which he would not wish his worst enemy.

He said: “We were in our ancestral land at Ezinano and suddenly, a team of police men led by Supol Ifeanyi Iburu stormed the place, started shooting sporadically, ordering us to lie down or be shot dead.”

According to him, he has not met Iburu before and does not know him, he wondered why he stormed their Ancestral land in a commando style forcing them to lie down or be killed.

“We were at our land at Ezinano on first of September 2024. We have plotted the land, fenced it, even our women have planted cassava there. When we went there, we discovered that some people came with excavators and were destroying our crops, removing beacons.

“We sent our Youth Secretary to B division, in Awka, to make entry along with the ladies who planted cassava there. The Divisional Police Officer in charge of B. Division sent two policemen to know what was happening, before then we had stopped those people with excavator from destroying our crops and removing our beacons.

“As we were there, suddenly, we saw some people with guns shooting and asking us to lie down or risk being killed. We obeyed and they are about 15 in number. As the Youths leader, I asked them what was the problem, instead, they started beating me.

“One of the B Division officers sent by their DPO told them that they were there to investigate the problem, but at the same time, he was also beaten, describing him as one of the accomplice of criminalities in the town.

“They took me away to RRS headquarters at Awkuzu and after reaching Ukpor- Abba junction, Iburu started calling one Peter that he should bring out AK47 rifle from the armoury. When I asked him what was happening, he threatened to kill me and said we have been killing people and burying them in that land, thinking that nobody knows. He told me that if they could not trace any grave there, they will kill one person and bury him there, and we will answer the question.

“When we got to Awkuzu RRS Station, they brought out one AK 47 rifle, tried to hang it on my neck, I resisted it and they started beating me again and forcefully hung the gun on my neck and took pictures of me with the gun.

“After that, he ordered that I be sent to cell five, meanwhile, he had not taken any statement from me. As I got inside the cell, I saw about seven malnourished persons and they told me for three months they have not eaten. Not up 30 minutes, one died and they took him away.” Nwokoye stated.

He further said that, “At about 6.30 to 8 pm they called my name that I should wear my clothes. I wore my clothes, they started threatening to kill me again and I asked again, what is the problem? He said that we have been killing people and burying them in that land. He said that if they could not find any one ,they will bury one for us and show the AK47 he found with me.

“I never knew we were heading to the office of the State Commissioner of police and when we got there, the CP asked him whether he recovered the AK47 from me, he said no. He asked him again, whether he snapped me picture with AK, he said no, then, the CP directed he should go and release me.”

Nwokoye further expressed fears toward the alleged plots of Supol Ifeanyi Iburu against him considering so far he has gone to incriminate him with gun

When THE RAZOR reached out to the public relations officer of Anambra State Police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga for reactions to the allegations, his phone was switched off.