Imo family seeks justice over son’s alleged murder

The Njoku family in Okwu Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State has cried out to the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 9, Umuahia, over the gruesome murder of their son, Friday Njoku, demanding thorough investigation and justice over his death.

Friday Njoku, 26, a woodpecker was said to have been murdered on April 21, 2024, at about 10 am near Okwu Uratta Health Center.

Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, on Monday, the uncle of the deceased, Michael Njoku, who is a retired police officer said that immediately after the murder, one Austin Oriaku, the community President-General came to his house and informed him that the village vigilante operatives were chasing Friday Njoku, who they accused of stealing door frame of the dilapidated health centre, adding that while he was running he fell, collapsed and died.

He also alleged that Mr Oriaku requested his permission to bury the corpse of the deceased immediately at the scene of the incident, adding that Oriaku claimed that he had reported the incident to the Owerri North Divisional Police station, who permitted him to bury the deceased at the scene of the incident immediately.

On reaching the scene of the incident, Michael Njoku said, “I found out Friday Njoku was shot at the back with bruises all over his body. That prompted me to report the case of murder against Emmanuel Abakporo, Chetachi Abakporo, Austin Oriaku and others at the same Owerri Divisional Police Station, where the officers of the said police station neglected to arrest either the suspected murders or investigate the complaints.”

In their quest to bury the deceased, the youths of Okwu Uratta protested against the move and in the process set the shop of Emmanuel Abakporo ablaze.

Nike said that he was arrested for alleged case of arson at the Homicide Department of State CID, Owerri, thereby leaving the suspected murderers to walk about the streets freely.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased was later moved to Aladima Hospital mortuary by the police, Njoku said, adding that the policeman who is in the custody of the mortuary tally had refused any member of the deceased family to have access to the corpse.

He also said that the police have refused to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the young boy five months after the incident, a development that prompted the petition to the AIG.

When contacted, Oriaku told South-East PUNCH correspondent on the phone that he should not be disturbed and that he was in a meeting.

Also, the Zone 9 Police Public Relations Officer, SP Kingsley Iredibia, said he would get back to us but as at the time of filing the report, he was yet to respond.