Barely 48 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar said the mob that lynched four UNIPORT students chased his men away from the area, one of the suspects paraded before journalists in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, David Ugbaje, said he saw two policemen at the scene with one of them taking part in the beating of the victims.
The suspect’s allegation raises a big question mark on the integrity and possible culpability of the Nigerian Police in the incident.
Ugbaje, a shoemaker, was paraded alongside the traditional ruler of Umuokiri village, Alhaji Hassan Welewa; Lawal Segun, Lucky Orji, Cynthia Chinwo, Ekpe Daniel, George Nwadei, Gabriel Oche and Ozioma Abajuo.
Others were Chigozie Evans Samuel; Endurance Edet; Uwem Sam-pson Akpabio; Ugbaje and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (alias Capon).
He said he was informed the victims were robbers adding that one of the victims was his customer. He also admitted hitting the victims twice.
“I saw a crowd beating four boys and I asked who they were? They were just four men being beaten. They told me they were armed robbers. I inquired to know what happened in the compound, but they only said they were going to 9, Coca cola Street in Umuokiri-Aluu. I said ok, “it is my compound”, let us go and see the person to know whether he was their member, or let them point at the particular person they were going to look for.
“Along the line, two policemen came around. One of them was pleading, the other one even joined in the beating. After beating the boys, the police now asked that they hand over the boys to them,” Ugbaje said.
Two other suspects were allowed to speak to journalists, one of whom also admitted to joining in beating the victims.
Source: Daily Post
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