Father Seeks Justice Over Extra- judicial Killing Of His 19-year-old Son In Benue

An aggrieved man, Mr Joseph Onminyi is seeking justice for his 19-year-old son who was allegedly shot dead by men from the Operation Zenda unit of the Benue State Police Command.

According to Mr Onminyi, his son was killed in the presence of family members on May 19, 2024, around 8 pm while they were having dinner at their residence located at Welfare Quarters, Makurdi.

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, November 6, the civil servant alleged that some policemen invaded their residence, shot his son dead, and took away his corpse.

Onminyi demanded the immediate release of his son’s body for a decent burial according to Idoma’s traditional rites and customs.

The father described his son as a complete gentleman and said that, to his knowledge, his son had not committed any offence that would have warranted his killing by the police in front of the family.

“I am Mr. Joseph Onminyi, the father of the deceased, late Peter Onminyi, who was shot to death by the police on May 19, 2024, in my own house, not even outside,” he said.

"No reason was given by the police for their actions. They didn’t ask or tell anyone about the offence he committed; rather, they just killed him while he was eating in the dining room.

"The police didn’t approach me, the father, or ask any of my children who were with me in the room what offence my son had committed. They just jumped over the fence, entered the house, and began shooting sporadically. They even shot at one of my sons, who was eating at the dining table.

"Not only that, after killing him, they took his body away and removed all the home properties, including a radio, refrigerator, washing machine, gas cooker and gas cylinder, as well as two motorcycles and everything else in the house

"I think this action could be seen as armed robbery because they came unannounced, and nobody was informed of what they were there for. Whether they came to search for something or to investigate someone, they didn’t say anything; they just shot and killed my innocent child.

"After killing him, the police took his body away to an unknown destination. Up to this moment, I don’t know where my son’s lifeless body is. Not only that, the police locked my house.”

"They locked the entrance gate to my house. My house has been locked and the key withheld since the incident in May.

"My family and I have been sleeping outside our home in an uncompleted building. I therefore appeal to Nigeria and the entire world to come to my aid and address the police brutality against innocent citizens,” Onminyi added.

While mentioning that he had filed a case for breach of human rights against the police, the deceased’s father accused the police of delaying the case in court.

“They have refused to appear in court, which means the police believe they are above the law and can disregard the judicial process,” he said.

The spokesperson for the State Command, SP Catherine Anene, told the punch that the case involved someone suspected of kidnapping and armed robbery.

“I am aware of the case, which involved a boy who was suspected of kidnapping. I think the police went there to arrest him, and during the process, one of the boys exchanged gunfire with the police, and in the process, he was killed,” the PPRO said.

“However, I am not sure of the name, but I will get back to you. This happened around the Welfare Quarters in the Makurdi area."