In line with his oath of office and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which made State Governors chief security officers of their various States, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, upon receiving the information that a soldier attached to Ohanze military checkpoint, in Obingwa LGA shot and killed an innocent commercial motorcyclist, Chimaobi Nwaorgu in his hometown, Umuokereke-Ngwa. Governor Ikpeazu took it upon himself to ensure the culprit was unraveled and that justice prevailed.
Recall that, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in company of the State Commissioner of Police, CP. Ene Okon and top Abia government officials visited the family of the deceased and commiserated with them. Dr. Ikpeazu also held an emergency town-hall meetings with the Obingwa Traditional Rulers Council and Umuokereke-Ngwa youths, where he calmed them down and assured them that he would do all within his powers to ensure that the culprit does not go unpunished. Hence, the Governor directed the State Commissioner of Police to do the needful and ensure that the soldier in question is not only arrested but made to face the full wrath of the law if found guilty. Since the day the incident occurred, the Governor has stopped at nothing to ensure that justice is achieved over the matter. The efforts of the Governor and that of the Nigeria Police have resulted to the final dismissal of the soldier.
Today, the Nigeria military has officially handed over the culprit, Lance Corporal Ajayi Johnson the Nigerian Police for civil investigation and final prosecution. The Brigade Commander, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General Solomon Kumapayi in company of other top military officers handed over the dismissed soldier to the Abia State Police Command today at the Police Headquarters in Umuahia.
Brigadier Kumapayi disclosed that the command has conducted its internal investigation and in line with extant military rules and that the identified soldier has been tried and demoted from a Lance Corporal to a Private Soldier as well as dismissed from the Nigerian Army. The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division Enugu, Colonel Aliyu Yusuf on behalf of the Division was present as the handover was done
It is note worthy that while receiving the culprit from the Army Commander, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ene Okon, said the Police would ensure they carry out their statutory function and prosecute the culprit for murder if found culpable. Of course, the law must take its course on ex-soldier Ajayi Johnson for his wicked and dastardly acts. This action is really worrisome because the only ‘sin’ of the young commercial motorcyclist, Chimaobi Nwaorgu was that he refused to give Ajayi 100 naira tip of the previous day, as if, this innocent Okada man bought crayfish on credit from him. It is high time the uniformed men in Nigeria stopped embarrassing themselves and the Federal government with their alleged uncontrollable attitude of extortion on our roads. Also, it is time these extra-judicial killings stopped.
Truly, justice over this wickedness has come. This would certainly be a great lesson to those uniformed men who do not regard the lives of the innocent Nigerians rather prefer to shoot them at the slightest provocation, even with guns and bullets purchased with the tax payers’ money.
The foregoing is a testimony to the fact that the State chief executive, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D is on ground. And he really deserves commendation for his prompt action in this case. The Governor has in so many ways assisted the Nigeria military, Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other sister agencies in the State in ensuring that they live up to expectations. The Governor has not relented in providing vehicles and other security gadgests to them. Abians are confident that Governor Ikpeazu is poised to do more and ensure a highly secured Abia State in this second tenure.
Bravo OVI!
Ubani Newman,
SSA (GOV.) NEW MEDIA & PUBLICITY
21/08/2019
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