Posted by Samuel on Thu 18th May, 2023 - tori.ng
He petitioned the IGP over an alleged attack in his house and the abduction of his 33-year-old graduate son, Kingsley Chika Ugwoke.
A 101-year-old retiree, Pa Nicholas Ugwoke has petitioned the Inspection General of Police.
He petitioned the IGP over an alleged attack in his house and abduction of his 33 year old graduate son, Kingsley Chika Ugwoke.
Pa Ugwoke, the oldest man in Azuokpe village, Umudim, Ibagwa-Ani, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, alleged that some policemen invaded his house, carted away family properties, caused massive destructions in the building and properties inside, shot his son, Kingsley, took him away, and till date his whereabout is unknown to the family.
According to the centenarian, the heartbreaking thing was that till date nobody has told him or members of his family why his house was invaded and destroyed and his last son shot and taken to unknown place.
In the petition which was copied to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Enugu state Commissioner of police, the old man alleged that “on July 11, 2022, a team of armed police officers in 7 Hillux Vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished taking his morning bath”.
Part of the petition reads: “I am the eldest man in Azuokpe village, aged 101 years (as at September 2022 when petition was written) and the father of Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who is my last born and just graduated from Enugu State University of Science and Technology(ESUT), wherein he studied Microbiology and was working towards his clearance to enable him participate in the National Youth Service Corps.
“While my son Ugwoke Kingsley was awaiting call up letter for the National Youth Service, our village, Ibeagwa-Ani, set up a local vigilante to assist the Nigeria Police in maintaining law and order in our village. He was head of the vigilante.
“Unfortunately, on the 11th day of July, 2022, a team of armed police officers in seven Hills vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished his morning bath.
“After shooting him between the hours of 9.30sm and 10am, the said team of police officers threw him into a Hillux van as if he was a lifeless wood. They equally arrested three other boys in and around my compound and took them to Nsukka Central police station.
“All these happened without any resistance from Ugwoke Kingsley who was repeatedly crying in a very loud voice, demanding to know what offence he has committed.
“Two hours later, the same team of police officers came back to my house and destroyed my house which I built in 1960 and was only renovated recently.
“The level of destruction in my house was heartrending and mind boggling to the extent that all the glass windows, doors, bookshelves, standing fans, among other things were all vanished.
“As if these destructions were not enough, CG motorcycle, Summec 27000 generator and bags containing my clothes and that of the household were carted away. The worst was that the diabetic drugs being taken by my sick wife were not spared by these stern looking police officers”, Pa Ugwoke lamented.
He said since the sad incident happened in his house, his family had been going to various police stations in Enugu in search of Kingsley but “no police officer has explained to my family the allegations against my son, Ugwoke Kingsley Chika and his whereabout”.
The centenarian appealed to the IGP to order a thorough investigation into the incident and get to the root of what happened to his son.
When contacted on the petition, the spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe said: “I’m sure the petition would’ve been endorsed for investigation. But I’ll have to verify, please”.