Youths seek N150m payout from police over killing of colleague

ONITSHA —Youths in Agulu under the aegis of Agulu Youth Development Empowerment Committee, weekend, demanded N150 million compensation for the family of 27-year-old Onyeka Agupugo who was allegedly shot dead by a policeman at a check-point at Nwagu Junction, Agulu.

In a petition by their President, Uchenna Okoye, to Anambra State Commissioner of Police and Inspector-General of Police, the youths also demanded that the policeman should be prosecuted and the corpse be released to the family for burial.

The petitioners also called on Governor Peter Obi, traditional ruler of Agulu, Igwe E.I. Obodoakor and President-General of Agulu Peoples Union, Azubike Okoye, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice was done.

The petition reads in part, ”This young man lying lifeless in your custody did not do anything to warrant his death. We and the immediate family demand that his corpse be released to the family and that the particular police officer who perpetrated the act be called to book and a compensation of N150m be paid to the family.”

Narrating the incident to Vanguard, Okoye said Agupugo was shot dead on August 13 by a policeman at a check-point at Nwagu Junction on his way home to Ekwulobia after work.

He said the deceased who left behind a four-month- old pregnant wife had been given a lift on a motorcycle by a friend when they reached the check-point and were stopped by the police man.

Okoye said: “The policeman who stopped them demanded N20 and when the rider of the motorcycle, Chibuzor Egboka, did not yield to the demand, he collected his key. Agupugo tried to mediate in the matter when the trigger-happy policeman pulled his trigger and killed Agupugo.”

-By Enyim Enyim 

Source: Vanguard