BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed that some of its officers pursued a student of the State University, Ayogu Evans to death during a stop and search exercise.
In a press statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, he explained that some police operatives on snap stop and search around Nkaliki road pursued the victim because he made them suspicious by reversing and speeding off on sighting the team.
The incident caused unrest among other students of the university as the Commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo, assured them that their concerns would be thoroughly investigated and anyone found culpable would be sanctioned accordingly.
She called on the public to support the police by reporting any unprofessional conduct of police officers on duty to the police authority while assuring the public that disciplinary actions would be taken against any erring police officer.
The statement read, “On 2/12/2023 at about 12 pm, police operatives on snap stop and search around Nkaliki road sighted a vehicle that was approaching their checkpoint but suddenly reversed and sped off.
“The actions of the driver raised the suspicion of the police operatives which made them pursue the vehicle, the driver did not stop till he was involved in an accident along Oriuzor road.
“Traffic officers were alerted and with the effort of good citizens, the victim Ayogu Evans, a student of Ebonyi State University was conveyed to the hospital where he unfortunately gave up the ghost.
“Circumstances surrounding his death which is still shrouded with controversies, made some students of Ebonyi State University conceive the idea of a protest against police actions.
“The commissioner of police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo, psc immediately addressed the student leaders and assured them that their concerns would be thoroughly investigated and anyone found culpable will be sanctioned accordingly.
“The Commissioner of Police is using this medium to encourage the citizens to support the police while they carry out their mandate and to report any unprofessional conduct of police officers on duty to the police authority while assuring the public that disciplinary actions will be taken against any erring police officer.”
