Police accused of cover-up in murder of 13-yr-old girl

By CHARLES IWUOHA

Peter Nwuzor, an uncle of 13-year-old girl in Ebonyi State, Ukamaka Nwuzor, who was allegedly killed by her neighbour, Ogbonna Daniel, on Friday called on Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Human Rights Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Women and Child Right Bodies to intervene into the killing of the girl and alleged attempt to cover up the matter.

Ukamaka was allegedly killed on May 2, 2020 in the morning by Ogbonna for pouring dirty water in front of his house. The incident occurred at One Avenue, Abakalkiki.

The state police command had arrested the suspect over the incident.

But in a statement signed by him and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, Nwuzor alleged that there was plan by the state police command to set Ogbonna free having not been charged to court but released by the police.

He alleged that the suspect has been hobnobbing with powerful forces in the state to pervert justice on Ukamaka’s killing.

“On that fateful day, the suspect, Daniel Ogbonna intercepted the deceased who was sent on an errand by her aunty and started beating her, alleging that she poured water in a place he had slept. As the girl was crying, her aunty heard her cry and rushed to find out why. The said Daniel Ogbonna said that the deceased poured water and she must sweep it and he continued to beat her.

“The pregnant woman could not watch as the suspect continued beating Ukamaka who was losing energy and who made frantic effort to escape to no avail and then she held the suspect on his cloth and told him, “Dan, since you won’t stop beating my child, then kill the two of us”; immediately, the mindless suspect gave the pregnant woman a punch in her right eye and as she struggled to hold herself, the poor girl’s heart failed and she slumped and died.

“Both the deceased and her pregnant aunty were rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki where the little girls was confirmed dead and her aunty admitted for treatment. The matter was promptly reported to Kpirikpiri police station where statements from eye witnesses and I were recorded. Police accompanied me to the hospital, took photograph of both the deceased and her victim and visited the crime scene and transferred the matter to the state CID.

“Regrettably, weeks after officers from the Homicide Section of the state CID concluded investigation on the matter, they refused to charge the matter court. It is therefore, against this backdrop that I call on the respectable Inspector-General of Police, Human Rights and Civil Society Orgnizations, women and child Right Bodies and the international community to come to my aid in search of justice for my slain cousin, as the suspect is now seen to be hobnobbing with powerful forces who are bent on setting him free at the detriment of justice and social responsibility. My life and those of my family is not safe with the release of the murder suspect as my family and I, are now principal witnesses in the matter,” he said.

Confirming Ukamaka’s murder, the state Police spokesperson, DSP Loveth Oda, said the suspect would be charged to court after investigation.

She said: “On 02/05/2020 at 2:15pm One Peter Nwuzor ‘m’ of Omege Avenue Abakaliki reported at ‘B’ Division Kpirikpiri, that by 9am of the same date his co-tenant at the aforementioned address One Ogbonna Daniel ‘m’ age 28yrs, a native of Asaga in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State beat up his daughter Ukamaka Nwuzor ‘f’ aged 11yrs to the point of coma.

“Following the report, the Police detectives immediately visited the scene of the incident, the victim was rushed to the A-E Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FETHA I) for medical treatment but was later confirmed dead by the medical practitioner on duty. The corpse was deposited at the same hospital Mortuary for preservation and Autopsy.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a next door neighbour to the deceased family and there was an altercation that the deceased (little Ukamaka) poured unclean water near (Mr. Ogbonna Daniel) the suspect’s apartment as a result he descended on her, beat her up to the point of coma which led to her death.

“However the suspect has been arrested and investigation is ongoing after which the suspect will be charged to court.”