The police command in Rivers State has tendered an apology for misleading the public over the murder of Ikoku Mechanic, Chima Ikwunado by men of the Eagle Crack Unit.
Recall that the Public Relations Officer of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, claimed in an initial statement that an autopsy report showed the late mechanic died of high blood sugar.
However, on Monday, a pathologist contracted by the police said no autopsy had been carried out on the corpse of Ikwunado.
The police have faced intense pressure from the public since the news of the mechanic’s death broke.
Six of the officers who masterminded the torture to death of the mechanic ve since been detained.
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Omoni said his earlier statement was a product of what the commander of Eagle Crack Unit, SP Benson Adetuyi, told him, adding that the command was embarrassed by the outcome the lie told them by Adetuyi.
“SP Benson Adetuyi was called when the news went viral and he said they were investigating a case of armed robbery.
“He said that they (Chima and the Ikoku 4) were intercepted and taken to the station and that they were interrogated and detained in the cell in the cause of Interrogation Chima eventually died in custody and he was taken to the hospital and it was revealed that he died of high sugar level.
“I am quoting him. Based on that, when I was interviewed on Radio I quoted him. When the CP summoned him, he told the CP the same thing. When the Force PRO Called him and the team to Abuja, he told them the same thing so we were startled when an autopsy was conducted the other day we were thrown aback’’
“I equally said we were not contending with or rely 100% on what he told us, that CP has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The revelations we are getting today is as a result of the investigation that was instituted by the commissioner of police by men of the state CID, It is still the same police, the revelation of there was no autopsy was still revealed by the same police.
“If we wanted to cover our tracks, we would have done that but because we are transparent, the report from the pathologist is still from the police doctor.
“The officers involved in this dastardly act were detained when it was confirmed that the Late Chima died out of torture, that is murder and we would deal with them appropriately.
“For the commander himself, he has been redeployed. All hands on deck to ensure that justice is served in this matter.
Omoni appealed for calm adding that “The CP has promised to address the press holistically as soon as the autopsy report is out because that would be captured in our investigation report and based on our report, the CP would now tell the world what happened and the level of complicity of everyone”
