The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has condemned the unprofessional conduct and misuse of firearms by a policeman at Ebem Ohafia area of Abia State.
The incident led to the death of one Ifeanyi Arunsi.
The IG in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday equally condemned the resort to self-help by some people and the resultant arson and damage to government property and operational assets of the Nigeria Police Force.
He also ordered the immediate deployment of Janet Agbede as the new Commissioner of Police, Abia State.
She takes over from CP Okon Ene who had been posted to the Force headquarters, Abuja.
Arunsi was in company with his co-workers discharging goods from a truck when some policemen in a private car hit the truck.
In the ensuing argument between the policemen and the workers, one of the policemen, a constable, shot sporadically during which a bullet hit Arunsi.
In a swift reaction, the youths mobilised and set some police patrol vans ablaze, including the Divisional Police Officer’s quarters.
They also freed some suspects in police custody and damaged the court building in the area.
The statement by the police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the IG had set up a Special Investigation Panel headed by DIG Anthony Ogbizi in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“The panel will review police actions and inactions, prior, during and after the death of Mr Ifeanyi Arunsi and the circumstances surrounding the attack on the police station and damage to property,” it noted.
Ikpeazu condemns killing
The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, condemned the killing Arunsi.
Ikpeazu, spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.
Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ude Oko-Chukwu, expressed the state government’s displeasure over the recent killings of Abia citizens by policemen.
He warned that the state government will no longer tolerate such provocative killings as it will ensure that law takes its full course on the culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.
An uncle to the deceased, Chief Ubani Ukpai said lfeanyi’s death left the family heartbroken because the late Ifeanyi was full of life, hardworking and resourceful. While expressing gratitude to the governor for finding time to visit the family, appealed to him to ensure that justice was done.
The governor also paid a visit to other victims of the clash who were receiving treatment for various degrees of injury at Ebem Hospital, Ebem Ohafia.
punch/IJM
