April 21, 2020
By Ijendu Iheaka
Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Aba on Tuesday demanded justice for victims of extra-judicial killings by security agencies in Abia during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In separate statements made available to newsmen in Aba, the groups condemned the killing of civilians by security agencies enforcing COVID-19 lockdown.
Abia has so far recorded five deaths by the police and other security agencies’ operatives in the state in the last three weeks.
Chairman, Aba Chapter of CLO, Dr Charles Chinekezi said the killing of businessman, Ifeanyi Arunsi by a drunk policeman at Ebem, in Ohafia LGA last week is wake up call to stop the killings in Abia.
"The Commissioner of police should round up all those involved in causing all these troubles and deaths and ensure they did not go unpunished.
“Not just those who killed, but even those who got involved in causing injuries should all be rounded up and then put on trial immediately.
"If he doesn't do that it simply means he has given them the license to go ahead.
“He's a descent officer who would still want his career records to remain clean and it is a crime to drink while carrying a gun or even on any serious duty, so he must find reason to punish these erring operatives.
"It's an abomination and criminal offense for an officer of the law to use government weapon, bought with public fund to kill innocent tax-paying citizens and owners of the money with which those weapons were secured.
"If their superiors cannot call them to order, then their superiors should now be made to face the law because those junior officers are under them," he said.
He said it was wrong for people to be killed while they are running from disease and hunger and urged Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to make a strong statement on the matter and act urgently.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) and Easy Life for Rural Youth Initiative (ELIRY) said the police are no longer protecting the people in Aba.
In releases signed by their leaders Chief Goodluck Ibem, and Mr Uche Emeku respectively, the NGOs said the police and other security agencies that has killed an Abia citizen must face the full weight of the law.
They demanded for prosecution of the culprit who killed Friday Arunsi in Ebem, Ohafia local government area on April 17 and killers of other victims during the ongoing lockdown in Abia.
They said “Extra-judicial killings have taken a dangerous dimension as the killing of Friday Arunsi has brought the number of persons killed during this lockdown in Abia state alone to five persons.
"Coronavirus which is the main reason for the lockdown has yet to kill anyone in the state but security agents has killed five persons without the help of covid-19.
"Abia residents are not animals whom anybody will just wake-up to kill at will and go away with it, so all extra-judicial killings during this lockdown must be treated seriously”, they said.
The groups called on the police to expedite investigation and action on all cases of extra-judiciary killings in Abia to deter potential erring security agents who see their guns as a tool to kill and maim residents at will.
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