The alleged shooting to death of Miss Chidimma Ezeanochie, 20, of Umudansu Village, Azia Community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra by the police has angered the community members.
Chidimma was shot to death on Nov. 25 while running an errand for her mother in the company of her 14-year-old brother.
The community in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, accused the police of shooting the girl at close range while her brother escaped.
The police have, , however refuted the allegation.
The petition is entitled “Gruesome murder of Miss Chidimma Ezeanochie by policemen of Special Unit deployed from Awka to Orsumoghu on Nov. 25, 2021’’.
It is signed by Dr Tonna Nwabueze, President-General of Azia General Assembly.
The community described the murder as gruesome, wicked and totally unacceptable and demanded justice from the police hierarchy.
According to the petition, Chidimma and her brother were shot at by a team member of the Special Unit from inside an armoured vehicle.
“Fortunately the brother was spared, but the bullet scattered our daughter’s head with the brain matter on the ground.
“Presently her body is deposited at a hospital morgue at Okija, Anambra.
“We contacted the area commander of the police on this and he told us that the policemen are a Special Unit from Awka deployed in Orsumoghu against the proscribed IPOB,’’ it stated.
Reacting to the petition, however, the police in Anambra condoled with the family of Miss Chidimma, but exonerated themselves from her shooting.
DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement, denied the community’s claim.
He said earlier that day, a police escort team consisting of seven policemen and three civilian drivers travelling through Azia/Osumoghu road was ambushed by some armed men. (NAN)
