The Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed shock over a quote credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in which he alleged that Mr Chibuisi Okameme, petrol attendant who was shot dead recently in Aba by a policeman was instead killed by a vehicle, saying the minister did not get his facts right.
The Governor while alleging that the minister’s position is part of grand plans to cover up the murder of Abia citizen insisted that justice must be done, urging the police authorities to expedite action to arraign the killer cop, Inspector Osas Atsu of Ohuru Isimiri Police Division.
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement in the media credited to the Honorable Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, as published in some national newspapers to the effect that the late petrol attendant in Aba, Mr Chibuisi Okameme, believed to be a victim of extra-judicial killing, was not killed by a policeman.
“The Honorable Minister was quoted to have said, among other things that, “What happened was that the policeman hit a Keke Napep and while the people were protesting, another oncoming vehicle hit the petrol attendant leading to his death”.
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“Nothing can be further from the truth!” Ikpeazu said in a statement on Friday signed by Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the Commissioner for Information.
The Governor went ahead to underline that the alleged extra-judicial killing took place in the presence of shocked eyewitnesses who observed the incident, stating that the Minister may have been informed.
“We wish to state categorically that information available to us suggests that one Inspector Osas Atsu of Ohuru Isimiri Police Division, Aba, allegedly shot and killed the late petrol attendant, Mr Chibuisi Okameme, of Green Mac Filling Station, New Umuahia Road, Aba, by aiming and firing live bullets at him in broad daylight and in the presence of many shocked eyewitnesses.
“The police authorities in the state are currently detaining the suspect in preparation for prosecution after due orderly room trial. We are therefore shocked to read the statement credited to the Honorable Minister, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria and published by several leading national newspapers. We believe that the Honorable Minister of Information may either have been misinformed or misquoted on the true state of affairs.
“Abia State Government wishes to call on the Police authorities to expedite the arraignment of the alleged murderer of Citizen Okameme as we will not accept any cover-up or conspiracy to do same from any quarters. May we reiterate that nothing short of justice for the grieving family and friends of the late hard-working young man will be acceptable to us.
“We also wish to call on the Honorable Minister to cross-check facts of the matter with the police authorities and immediately issue the necessary corrigendum to avoid being seen as part of a potential plot to cover up a matter that is certainly of public interest and which also involves the painful loss of human life through obvious abuse of firearms.
“It is already a matter of public knowledge that the sad murder of Citizen Okameme is one too many involving trigger happy armed security agents in our state including the unfortunate murder of Mr Chimaobi Nworgu of Amaise Umuokereke Ngwa Village in Obingwa LGA.
“We are however consoled that our insistence on justice for Late Chimaobi led to the dismissal and trial of the army officer involved. We will also not relent until justice is done in the instant case and others involving alleged extra judicial killings in Abia State” he concluded.
