Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
The brutal killing of a mechanic that plied his trade at the popular Ikokwu Spare Parts Market in Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Chima Ikwunado, is still generating controversy in Rivers State and beyond.
This is because more interested individuals and organizations, especially those from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, where Chima hailed from, are wading into the matter with the primary aim of ensuring that justice is done.
TPCN gathered that the apex socio-cultural organization of Igbos, known as Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, has condemned the killing of Chima Ikwunado by the police, demanding that the killers must be brought to book.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also gave a seven-day ultimatum to sue the Rivers State Police Command and the Commander of the infamous E-Crack Unit of the Mile One Police Station, Diobu, Port Harcourt, if they refuse to investigate and bring to book the officers who tortured Chima Ikwunado to death.
The Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Rivers State, Felix Onwuma, who made the position of the group known, also called for the immediate release of the other four persons allegedly tortured along with the late Chima Ikwunado, framed up, thrown in jail and those unlawfully arrested during the recent protest in Port Harcourt.
Also, secretary-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Uche Okwukwu, has condemned the brutal killing of Chima, calling for justice without delay.
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Moreover, TPCN gathered on Thursday that the largest gathering of Igbos worldwide – the Igbo World Congress – is interested in the matter and is set to have an extra-ordinary emergency executive council meeting in Washington DC, USA, over the sensitive issue.
A source revealed that to TPCN that the issue has dominated discussion among the executive officers of the Igbo World Congress in the US and that they are not taking it for granted.
Said the source: “Since last week that the matter was made public, a lot of discussions have been made and now, the Congress has finally scheduled an extra-ordinary exco meeting to take a decision on how to ensure that justice is done. My elder brother, who is a professor in the US, is one of the exco members. He confirmed to me that they are taking the matter up and may even involve Interpol and Amnesty International.”
Meanwhile, the Civil Liberties Organization has condemned the killing of Chima Ikwunado by the police and has also called for an unreserved apology to the family of the deceased as well as the full compensation.
Spokesman of the CLO in Rivers State, Clifford Christopher, told TPCN in Port Harcourt today, Thursday 23rd January, 2020 that no amount of excuse given by the police can justify the bloody act.
“The police should accept responsibility and tender an unreserved apology and then find a way to pay compensation, although no amount of compensation will equal the life of the young man,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has issued a stern warning that the State Government will not condone any form of lawlessness in Rivers State.
The Governor issued the warning following the protest by spare part dealers in the Diobu area of the State against the Nigerian Police Force.
