Ikpeazu protests removal of CP over police killings in Abia

 

BY OUR REPORTER

In amazing twist of event, the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has written to the Police Service Commission, protesting the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ene Okon, over incessant killings of innocent civilians by policemen in the state.

The last straw was the Ebem Ohafia killing of a 17-year-old young man by a policeman last Friday, April 17, which resulted into violent protest by the community, leading to the burning of several police vehicles, vandalisation of a police station and setting free of detainees in the cells and destruction of other government assets within the police station.

The news of removal of the former CP brought instant jubilation in the state which had witnessed no less than five police killings since the coronavirus lockdown in the state, within the last one month, even though Abia just recently recorded two cases of the COVID-19 without any single death yet.

In a protest letter dated April 22, 2020 and signed personally by the governor, Ikpeazu said he felt constrained to protest the transfer of CP Okon.

He said: “CP Eneh Okon as Abia State Commissioner of Police has shown capacity and industry in the discharge of his duties to the effect that crime rate in our state has long reduced under his watch.

“It might interest you to note that from February 2020 till date, we have recorded only 8 kidnappings and armed robbery cases in our state. There has also been no bank robbery at all in Abia State under the current Commissioner of Police. But more interestingly, he in concert with other Service Chiefs, has mopped up most of the small arms in the hands of hoodlums.

“CP Okon effectively managed the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) threats during the burial of Nnamdi Kanu’s parents. CP Okon therefore enjoys an unblemished record and consequently, the government and people of Abia State are very comfortable with him.”

READ: Ebem Ohafia Police Killing: IGP sets-up panel, redeploys CP

Ikpeazu continued in his diatribe, accusing a former gubernatorial candidate in the state, Dr Alex Otti, of being behind the removal of Okon, the forceful reaction of the Ebem Ohafia people to the killing of their son and sponsor of IPOB in the state.

“We are not unmindful of the boasting and threats both orally and on telephone by one Dr. Alex Otti, a defeated Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to remove CP Okon from Abia State because he has refused to allow IPOB and detractors of our President to riot and gain a foothold across Abia State.

“A good example is the arrest of one Barr. Emperor Ogbonna, who has for the past 5 years criticised and published seditious information against the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as well as the Governor of Abia State on Social Media.

“He (Emperor Ogbonna) was arrested three weeks ago and charged to court to prove his assertions against Mr. President and Abia State Government. His major sponsor IPOB through Chief Alex Otti called CP Okon, to effect his release or else the CP will be removed from Abia. When the CP refused to bulge, he decided to set up the ambush at Ohafia, and the fallout is what they are orchestrating in the media. As I write, they are already celebrating in our state that CP Okon has been removed and I am not happy about that,” the governor complained.

The Force PRO, DCP Frank Mba, who issued the statement announcing the decision of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to redeploy Okon to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, refused to comment on Ikpeazu’s letter, when RELIABLESOURCENG.COM chatted him on WhatsApp. He also did not pick a call placed to him, but it was certain he received a copy of Ikpeazu’s protest letter which we forwarded to him via WhatsApp.

READ: Otti appeals for calm as protesting youths burn police vehicles over killings in Abia

Meanwhile, Otti, in a statement issued in Umuahia on Friday by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, denied any involvement in the Ebem Ohafia protest that led to the redeployment of CP Okon.

Ekeoma also exonerated his principal from the allegation of IPOB sponsorship by Ikpeazu, saying that Otti had been a victim of “vicious state sponsored blackmail and violence.” He described the former bank chief executive as a peace-loving man who has never indulged or sponsored any act of violence in Abia or elsewhere.

“Otti believes in democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism, and thus expects every citizen who feels defamed in any form to seek legal redress devoid of vindictive and wicked political manipulation against such citizen,” Ekeoma said.

He added: “Even when the police had openly admitted that their men were behind the latest murder of the 17-year-old boy in Ohafia and that the police men acted under the influence of alcohol, Ikpeazu chose to pursue ungodly interest over the life of an innocent citizen by claiming that it was IPOB that carried out the murder and that it was Otti that sponsored them.

“Abians can now see why Ikpeazu continued to issue cosmetic press releases after every murder without initiating any serious action aimed at stopping future occurrence.

“Ikpeazu was angry and fought tirelessly to ensure that the redeployment never happened, because he wanted to use the police to continue the orgy of violence, illegal arrests and intimidation of citizens who muster the courage to challenge his rudderless government.

“Let it be clearly stated that even though Alex Otti does not know Barr. Empero Ogbonna and has never met him in his life, Otti will never fail to intervene to ensure that any Abian being unjustly oppressed is set free from the despicable grips of Ikpeazu, his godfathers and agents, that is what Otti is doing in the case of Ogbonna, just like he had done for other innocent citizens. He doesn’t need to know you before lending a helping hand where and when necessary.”