Police DSP allegedly kills final year Law student in Nsukka

By: Chadikobi Ozor 

A retired Police inspector Andy S.O Ugwu has accused a police DSP of killing his son, a final year law student.

The deceased, Ugwu Augustine, 27, was a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

He hailed from Owukpa community of Ogbadibo local government area, of Benue state.

He was arrested in the early hours of Monday 20th April 2020 along Odobido street of Nsukka town, by Anti Cult Vigilante of Nsukka local government council.

He was said to have been driven to Police anti cult unit of Nsukka police command where his life was allegedly terminated.

Speaking to journalists in Nsukka, father of the deceased, Mr. Ugwu said the gruesome killing of his son was still strange as no offence was established against him.

The deceased father in tears said “I was in my village on April 23rd, 2020 when my wife called that my son was arrested by anti cult group of Nsukka local government council for an unknown offence.

I put a call across to my retired colleague in the police force to find out what was the offence to warrant the arrest of my son.

“He went, and told me that I should better return immediately that police were not opening up.

“On Monday April 27th 2020 I hurried back to Nsukka but before my arrival my daughter had called me that my son had been killed and buried.

“When I arrived I made enquiries from serving colleagues before meeting the Officer In charge of Anti Cult Unit Nsukka police command.

My son asked the O/C anti cult to  take him to Court if he committed any offence but he wouldn’t listen. Immediately my son was brought to O/C anti cult, he drove everybody around away leaving only my son and some policemen and allegedly pulled the trigger and shot him to death.

I made investigations on the arrest and alleged barbaric killing of my son.

“The owner of the shop, where he was arrested volunteered to explain what he saw at his shop over the arrest.

“I took him to the police station where he made statement before the investigating police officer IPO and mentioned all names of members of the anti cult of the LGA who arrested my son.

“Thereafter the chairman Nsukka local government council Chief Patrick Omeje on Tuesday April 28, 2020  brought the Vigilante to the police station for questioning.

“The leader of the Vigilante clearly said that they arrested my son and handed him over to O/C police anti Cult unit Nsukka.

“Since then I have been pressing to be shown his corpse for me to take home according to the tradition of my community. I couldn’t see the corpse of my son, a final year law student to be killed unjustly?

“If he had committed any offence he would have been taken to court and pronounced guilty than the extra judicial killing. I wonder since we left the job whether the system and the law has changed.

“How can a policeman with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, kill somebody and nothing is done? On April 29th and 30th respectively I came on police invitation that they are taking the matter to state CID Enugu and nothing happened.

Up till now I have not seen the corpse of my son while his assailant is moving freely. The police at Nsukka urban told me that its only the state police headquarters that can apprehend him because of his rank.

“There are clear evidence that my son was handed over to him. I demand for the corpse of my son  and prosecution of his assailant” he said.