Imo police killing: Youths protest, demand justice

By Famous Ozobo

Aggrieved youths protested on major streets of Affor- Ntueke road in Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State to demand justice over the alleged shooting of a young man identified as Emeka Dike by a police DPO.

Congress gathered that the incident occurred at a joint popularly known as Emma Ocha’s beer parlour in Uruala community, Ideato-North, Imo State on Wednesday, April 20, around 7:45 pm.

According to the protesting youths, the deceased was the only son of his parents, and a father of four at the time he was reportedly shot dead.

The protesting youths, however, demanded justice, adding that the culprit should be brought to book.

They narrated that, the victim was rushed to the hospital after he was allegedly shot in his shoulder by Chris Ikemere, the DPO of the Ideato-North division, also an indigene of Isiekenesi in the Ideato-South council area.

The Central Youth President of Ntueke, Mr Ifeanyi Obiekwe, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the angry protesters noted that Dike, a man in his forties was shot on Wednesday, April 20, around 7:45 pm.

The angry youths blocked major roads during the protest, causing motorists, travellers and commuters to be stranded for hours.

Addressing the newsmen Obiekwe noted,” Both the police and his victim were in a bar parlour, where they came to have some evening comfort and relax when DPO arrived, there was a face-off between the two.

He said that in the sequel to the face-off, he branded the young men members of ESN! As he contacted his office and requested their help in coming to get rid of the bad boys in the bar.

Obiekwe asserted, “The trigger happy police officers could not exercise patience! As the young boys were demanding that he packed his jeep properly, he reached out for his rifle and shot one of them. And drove off immediately and took refuge at the police divisional command, very close to the scene of the event”

According to the youth President, if not for the prompt and mature intervention of the Area Commander of Ideato Police Area Command, who rushed the young man to the hospital and ensured that he received proper treatment, he would have been dead by now.

The spokesman of the State Police Command, Michael Abattam when contacted said the matter is under investigation.