Mrs. Dorcas Nwakor, a resident of Haruna Street, Odoakpu along Sokoto Road in Onitsha, Anambra State, filed a petition with Kayode Egbetokun, acting inspector general of police, alleging that police officers assigned to the Onitsha Area Command killed her son, Chibueze Nwakor.
Mrs. Nwakor said in the plea, which was made accessible to journalists in Onitsha on Monday, that Chibueze, her sole son and the father of three children, was shot dead by police officers stationed nearby on October 13, 2023, as he was making his way to work.
Through her attorney, Anayo Emejue and Associates, she made a petition to the acting IGP, stating that three police officers, including Jude Utazi, shot and killed her son that tragic day without any provocation.
It is our client’s instruction that on October 13, 2023, in Onitsha, Anambra State, a squad of three policemen shot and killed their son, husband, and brother, Mr. Chibueze Nwakor, without cause, according to a portion of the petition.Police officers assigned to Area Command, Onitsha, commanded by Jude Utazi shot and killed Chibueze, a resident of No. 15F Haruna Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, for reportedly refusing to answer their questions.
The policeman shot him, then rushed into their ash-colored commuter Hiace shuttle bus and sped away.
The victim’s neighbors hurried him to the hospital, but due to the severity of his wounds, he passed away before receiving care, leaving behind his wife and three children. The mortuary has received his body for burial.
“This is a case of a citizen being intentionally killed without cause or provocation.
The mother and wife of the dead urge the Nigeria Police to identify the killers and provide an explanation for their son’s or husband’s death.
The Anambra State Director of DSS, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Anambra, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Abuja, the Director of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and other individuals received copies of the petition.
During a press conference on Monday in his office, the family’s attorney, Anayo Emejue, verified that three police officers, including Jude Utazi, shot and killed the deceased without any justification.
We were informed that the three police officers responsible for the murder had been imprisoned in the Police Headquarters in Awka, but when we arrived there, we observed them walking around freely.
The father of three came from Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, but he currently resides with his family and runs a company at No. 15F Haruna St.
He didn’t do anything wrong; he was just shot by trigger-happy policeman because he wouldn’t answer their questions. Then, they rushed into their commuter Hiace, which was an ash color, and sped off.
Azuka Moses, the investigating police officer in the case, would not return calls or texts, thus attempts to gain a response from her proved futile.
The Anambra State Police Spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the event when approached about it on Monday, adding that “the case is still under investigation.”
In the meantime, Mr. Akin Fakorede, the deputy commissioner of police for the state’s criminal investigation division in Awka, urged the family’s legal representative in a letter to show up in person for the deceased’s autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday at noon at the St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Morgue in Onitsha.
The following was part of the letter from the Deputy Commissioner: “Notification of autopsy: Invitation to witness the autopsy of late Mr. Chibueze Samuel Nwakor, of No. 15F Haruna St. Odoakpu Onitsha, who was murdered on September 13, 2023. Post-mortem examination to determine the likely cause of death will be conducted on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, by noon at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital Mortuary.
In the meantime, Mr. Akin Fakorede, the deputy commissioner of police for the state’s criminal investigation division in Awka, urged the family’s legal representative in a letter to show up in person for the deceased’s autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday at noon at the St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Morgue in Onitsha.
The following was part of the letter from the Deputy Commissioner: “Notification of autopsy: Invitation to witness the autopsy of late Mr. Chibueze Samuel Nwakor, of No. 15F Haruna St. Odoakpu Onitsha, who was murdered on September 13, 2023. A post-mortem examination to determine the likely cause of death will be conducted on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, by noon at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital Mortuary.
In light of this, you are kindly requested to attend the location in person to observe the post-mortem examination. Nominate a suitable person to represent you if you are unable to attend for any reason.