Compensation package tears apart family of teenager killed by policeman

The family of Friday Arunsi, a young man killed by a drunk police officer last year, is currently in turmoil.

Arunsi was killed at Ebem community in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State on April 17, 2020.

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An officer attached to the Ebem Police Station has been blamed for the teenager’s death.

The family is torn apart over who gets the compensation awarded by the State panel of inquiry on police brutality and extra judicial killing.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, the deceased’s father, Mr. Ifeanyi Arunsi, and the deceased’s maternal family, Umu Nneibo, disagreed before the panel over who would receive the expected compensation for the deceased.

Arunsi claimed that the representative of the maternal family, Mr. Kings Hart Ukpai, never contributed anything to the training of the deceased from birth.

He said, “My son was 19 years old when he was killed by the police. Mr. Kings Hart Ukpai contributed nothing even from birth. I have been the one training him from primary school until he swat for his WAEC.

“January 2017 was the first time Mr Kings Hart Ukpai knew my son. My son was buried in Ebem Ohafia, on a piece of land I borrowed N5M to buy.

“The Umu Nneibo maternal family did not play any role in his training and burial. They were cautioned by the council of chiefs and elders whom I reported the matter to when they pushed me to the wall.

“At the burial, over N1 million was realized. Mr. Kings Hart Ukpai took everything. They didn’t give me anything.”

Chairman of the panel, Justice Sunday Imo (rtd) urged the two parties to stop quarrelling and concentrate on the extra- judicial Killing of their son.

He further warned that the families cannot be certain that compensation would be recommended for the deceased.

Justice Imo adjourned till April 7, for defence.