The Kogi State Police Command has admitted in killing an Nsukka-based lawyer lawyer, Elias Ugwu.
The Command in a statement, Thursday, by the Public Relations Officer, Williams Anya said the police mistook the late lawyer to be a member of the armed robbery gang that robbed some banks a day earlier on Thursday last week
The police statement read: “It will be recalled that, on 07/03/2024, armed robbers invaded Ayingba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State and robbed three banks and also attacked Police Stations. A Tactical Team was deployed to the area to restore normalcy and trail the hoodlums to apprehend and bring them to deserved justice.
“The Tactical Team received a report that some persons were sighted in a bush around Alade Village in Dekina council with an ox-blood Toyota Avalon car roaming up and down for two days or more asking the villagers for direction around the place where two vehicles and two motorcycles abandoned by the armed robbers were recovered.
“The operatives promptly swung into action and in conjunction with the local vigilantes moved into the area.
When they sighted the car already described by the villagers, they waved down the driver to stop but instead, zoomed off. In a bid to stop the car, shots were fired at the tyres of the car which brought it to a halt. It was then discovered that the car conveyed three persons (the driver and two others).
“The two men gave their names as Chidi Anieke and Elias Ugwu, both of Nkanu and Ihiakpoka, Nsukka, while the driver was identified as Elias Ugwu. The driver sustained injury and was taken to Maria Goretti Hospital, Ayingba where he gave up the ghost. The two surviving men stated that they were in Alade bush in Dekina for ransom payment to secure the release of a victim of kidnapping.
“They equally stated that they were not aware of the bank robbery that took place in Ayingba, Dekina and that they did not report or inform the Police of the alleged kidnap incident or of their presence or mission in that area, hence they were suspected to be part of the hoodlums that invaded Ayingba on March 7, 2024.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, extends his condolences to the family of the deceased over the unfortunate incident which was avoidable if they had stopped when they were waved down by the Police, who were with their patrol vehicle at the scene.”
