Azia community in Anambra has accused the police of being responsible for the death of a 20-year-old girl. It was alleged that policemen patrolling the Azia -Orsumoghu axis shot Chidinma who was sent on an errand by her aged mother.
Although the police denied the allegation, the president-general of Azia General Assembly, Dr. Tonna Nwabueze has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the matter.
According to the petition, Chidinma and her brother were shot at close range by a team member of the Special Unit from inside an armored vehicle.
Nwabueze said although Chidinma’s brother who was with her was spared, the bullet shattered Chidinma’s head with the brain matter on the ground.
The PG said: “She died instantly. It’s quite unimaginable because there was no form of provocation that could be linked to this.
“Presently, her body is deposited at a hospital morgue at Okija, Anambra.
“About 100 meters from the site of this incident, the police equally opened fire on a Sienna Space Bus parked by a block industry.
“We contacted the Area Commander of the police on this and he told us that the policemen are a Special Unit from Awka deployed in Orsumoghu against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra”.
However, the police denied involvement even as it consoled the family of Miss Chidimma.
In a statement signed by Mr. Toochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, the state police command debunked the community’s claim.
Ikenga said that on the fateful day, a police escort team consisting of seven policemen and three civilian drivers travelling through Azia/Osumoghu Road was ambushed by some armed men, adding that two police officers were killed in the attack and their bodies burnt, while one of the officers was still missing.
According to him, the peddlers of the misinformation about Chidinma’s death anchored their claims on the fact that they saw an Armoured Personnel Carrier passing through Azia/Osumoghu junction when the alleged incident happened.
“The police rescue team on arrival at Azia/Osumoghu junction came under indiscriminate shooting with Improvised Explosive Devices thrown at their vehicles by hoodlums who earlier attacked a police escort team.
“Police operatives repelled the attack and recovered two earlier stolen rifles belonging to the police. Throughout the operation, no innocent citizen, talk more of children were sighted in the area.
