...Demands sack of a police officer on alleged aiding of kidnapping
Over 500 women from Aku community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu, yesterday, marched to the Igbo-Etiti Police Division in protest over the alleged kidnap and killing of their community members by suspected members of Ikolo Community from the same local government.
The women also demanded the immediate sack of one senior police officer who they identified as the Divisional Crime Officer 2 (DCO2) at the police division.
They alleged that he contributed to the kidnap and killing of Aku people through his actions and inactions.
The women sang sorrowful songs and wielded placards with different inscriptions such as; "Gov. Peter Mbah please save our children from DCO 2 of Ogbede police Division.
"Enugu State Commissioner of Police please come to our rescue from the evil hands of DCO 2.
"DCO 2 enough is enough, provide our children now. The lives of our children matter provide them now, among others.
The leader of Aku women, Chief Mrs. Serina Eze who spoke to newsmen during the protest said that they were demanding the immediate sack prosecution of DCO 2 of Ogbede Police Division, who she alleged aided Ikolo people in the kidnap and murder of Aku people.
According to her "We are here to demand the immediate prosecution and sack of the DCO 2 of Ogbede Police Division who colluded with Ikolo people to kidnap and murder our children. We demand that he release our children whom he colluded with Ikolo people to kidnap. We have waited so long for their return but we are yet to see or hear from them.
"We are calling on the Inspector General of Police, Governor Peter Mbah, and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to our rescue from the evil hands of the DCO 2 who has chosen to become an instrument of destruction in the hands of Ikolo people against law-abiding citizens of Aku Diewa", she said.
Also speaking, Lady Mrs Justina Ogbu, the Secretary of Aku women, said that DOC 2 aborted a police operation aimed at searching and finding those missing boys even when Igbo-Etiti Police Division was very close to rescuing their missing children.
"When our boys joined efforts with the Nigerian police to go in search of our missing children, they got very close to the location as indicated by their phone tracker, only for DCO 2 to abort the operation with flimsy excuses.
"If he is not working with Ikolo people, why did he abort the operation when they got close to rescuing our missing children?
"The tracker has shown they were there. Why not proceed with the operation if he is not working with Ikolo people? she queried.
They equally accused the DCO 2 of demanding one hundred thousand naira from Aku youths who went to the Police station to report the case of their missing brothers.
Responding, the Divisional Police Officer of Igbo-Etiti Police Division, CSP Kelvin Nwagu thanked the women for conducting themselves peacefully and assured them that their demands would be communicated to the state Commissioner of Police.
"We have heard your demands and I thank you for your peaceful conduct. Be rest assured that your demands will be treated with immediate effect. We are here to protect and serve you," he said.
On his part, the DCO 2, denied all the allegations leveled against him saying that he acted according to his instincts after he perceived danger.
"Yes, we went for a search operation and when I anticipated danger ahead, I called off the operation and I told the search party that we would reinforce because we were few and our operational vehicle was not in good condition, but along the line, Aku youths started mobilizing themselves against me.
"I have no hand in the kidnap and killing of Aku people, I don't know why the protesting women are dragging my name, even the allegation that I demanded money when they came to make an entry about the missing people was a lie, such a thing never happened," he said
Recall that three boys from Aku were allegedly kidnapped earlier this month by Ikolo people when they went to the community in search of herbal medicine for the treatment of their ailing mother.
When the three boys could not return or be found, the matter was immediately reported to the police. Friends, family members, and Aku youths went for a search party for the missing persons.
The search party was allegedly ambushed by armed Ikolo people which resulted in the shooting and killing of four of them while scores sustained gunshot injuries.
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