Anambra Police Command has refuted rumors that its officers are involved in torturing to death a suspected armed robber along Secretariat road, Awka, Anambra State.
In a statement, the police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, referred to the report as malicious and the product of troublemakers who intended to damage the force’s reputation and incite the people against the Police Command.
According to him, the suspect was only saved by the police from an irate mob and a locally made gun with one enlarged cartridge that was reportedly used to rob his victims was all that was taken from him.
The statement reads: “The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to trending news on social media platforms alleging Officers serving in the ‘B’ Divisional Headquarters, tortured a Man to death and labelled him an armed robber over an undisclosed issue.
“The Command went into investigations on these allegations and discovered that is not true, but malicious, a product of fiction, the handiwork of mischief-makers and an attempt targeted to tarnish the image of some police personnel serving in the command and to incite the members of the public against the Police Command.
“To set the records straight, on 28/3/2023 by 10:35 pm, Police Operatives responded to a distress call along Secretariat road, Awka rescued a suspect from an angry mob and recovered a locally made gun with one expanded cartridge allegedly used in robbing his victims.
“The suspect was later identified as Mr Chibuike Christian Okafor popularly known as Jokef, collapsed after being rescued by the police, was immediately rushed to the hospital and was later confirmed dead by a Medical doctor.
“Meanwhile, the Investigation is still ongoing as the Command is still studying the video footage of the mob action to identify the persons behind this act.
“The Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng has reiterated the Campaign against mob action and encouraged the public to take suspects to police stations whenever they are apprehended.
“This will help the Police to conduct proper investigations into the activities of the suspects and bring them to justice under extant laws.
“Henceforth, the Command shall invoke relevant sections of the cybercrime act against any happy trigger writer/ social media influencer whose aim is to publish falsehood and cause disharmony in the State.”