Brave Dickson
As reactions continue to trail the murder of Chima Ikwunado by men of the Eagle Crack Unit of the Rivers State Police Command, the command says four policemen have been arrested over the death of the mechanic.
A source said that three of the operatives were detained upon their arrival from Abuja while the fourth operative was arrested from his hospital bed.
Chima who was arrested by the unit on December 19th 2019 was tortured to death and his friends thrown into Port Harcourt prison after arraignment in court on trumped-up charges
The command had denied that the officers tortured the mechanic death, saying he died from high blood sugar.
The claims by the police sparking series of protests in Port Harcourt with the family saying the late mechanic had no history of diabetes and was never on drugs.
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Chima’s customers had stated that their cars were not stolen as police alleged, sparking furious reactions on social media with the hashtag JusticeforChima.
However, pressure from civil society organizations and other concerned Nigerians forced the Department of Public Prosecution of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice to issue legal advice exonerating the four of the mechanic’s friends who were thrown into prison.
A magistrate ruled last week that the four men dubbed the “Ikoku Four” were arrested on mere suspicion as they do not have any case to answer.
There have been calls for the prosecution of the officers involved in the murder.
Mr Nnamdi Omoni, State Police Public Relations Officer said the four officers were invited and questioned, adding that they have been detained pending when an investigation is conducted on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Ohaneze Ndigbo has issued another seven days’ ultimatum to the Nigerian Police to release the traders who were arrested while protesting the death of Ikwunado.
President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Rivers State, Bartholomew Okere, gave the ultimatum while addressing a meeting of Igbo traders in Port Harcourt.
Okere stated that Igbos have become endangered species in the hands of Rivers State Police Command, saying that the police have turned traders to their Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s).
