Monday, April 6, 2020
By Ijendu Iheaka
Abia Police Command on Monday confirmed the arrest of Police Inspector Stanley Azuh attached to Ohuru-Ishimiri Police Division at Ogbor-Hill, Aba for allegedly killing Mr Chibuisi Prince Godwin.
A police source who did not want his name printed told our Correspondent that the incident happened in Ogbor-Hill, along New Umuahia road in Aba on Sunday evening.
He said that Godwin was shot dead while Azuh, the policeman was enforcing Abia government’s “Stay-at-Home” order meant to stop the entrance of Coronavirus into Abia.
He said that Azuh who was attempting to stop a vehicle that violated the lockdown order mistakenly touched his riffle’s trigger, releasing the bullet that hit Godwin who later died in the hospital.
Abia Police Commissioner, Ene Okon while confirming the arrest of the officer said that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the matter.
Okon said that the police as an institution does not take such careless attitude to human life lightly.
“That police inspector was arrested immediately and detained, as I am talking to you, SCID has taken over the matter and they are investigating the police inspector for murder.
"We have our rules of engagement, we have our standards of operation and procedures and we have our own Force Order 237 as reviewed.
“That order has to do with when a police officer has to use his firearm and it will be justified. It's not an excuse for you to say accidental discharge.
“A trained officer on such assignment should put his riffle on safety mode; the riffle has a safety mode and once you put it there, it will not just release anyhow.
"So, it is not an excuse that he mistakenly touched the trigger. That's why we detained him and are seriously investigating the whole matter”, Okon said.
A source from the area told NAN that the late Godwin was a staff of Greenmac Energy Ltd, a Petroleum Company that deals on fuel and Kerosene in Ogbor-Hill, Aba.
The sources said the deceased came out for work as usual as their line of business was among those classified as essential services, and not restricted by the lockdown order when he met his death.
Mr. Kenneth Enwereuzor, a resident of the area said that the victim was killed because the officer does not value human life as there are other means of catching an offender without shooting at him.
"The Governor should step things up before they'll sweep this under the carpet.
“Even if he had shot and killed the person inside the vehicle he was chasing will it be justified?
"Some of these policemen need to be given psychiatric test because I don't understand why someone will shoot a fellow human being without any suspicion of him being armed or for committing any heinous crime," he said.
Other residents who felt angered by the policeman’s recklessness called on Abia government to ensure the trigger-happy officer does not escape unpunished for taking an innocent man’s life needlessly.
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