By Nwamkpa Modestus
The Imo police command appears to be frustrating the case involving the cold bloodied shooting of late Friday Nduka from Oguta LGA who was shot dead on 22nd December, 2016 by a trigger happy police Inspector Micheal Edem of Imo police command but who was attached as a security guard at the NNPC filling station Control post Owerri. The parents of the late Mr Nduka expressed displeasure with what they called the antics of the police who they said has since abandoned the family without any serious effort being put in place to either arrest the culpable police Inspector Mike Edem or appease the family.
During an interview with our reporter, the Elder brother to the late Friday Nduka Mr Chidi Nduka complained what he called nonchalant attitude of the Imo state police command over the unfortunate killing of his younger brother Late Mr Friday Nduka by the police Inspector Mike Edem. He said that contrary to all the assurances given to the family of late Nduka by the Imo state police Commissioner Mr. Lakanu that the police would stop at nothing in apprehending the culprit whom the police claimed had been declared wanted that nothing on ground presently suggest that the police is up the task making the family to suspect foul play on the side of the police.
Mr Chidi Nduka accused the police of non professionalism and playing pranks with the death of his younger brother. He vowed to seek justice in the matter while also calling on the Inspector General of police Abubakar Idris to wade into the matter and compel Imo police command under Lakanu to be sincere in the matter. He said that his family want the Inspector who shot his brother and the fuel attendant that had the problem that led to the shooting of his brother on 22nd of December to be arrested and meant to face the consequence of their barbaric action and that nothing less than that would be acceptable to the family. He emphatically accused the police of knowing the whereabouts of Inspector Edem accusing them of hiding him and at the same time claiming not to know his whereabouts.
It would be recalled that a young man Mr Friday Nduka, a native of Egbuoma in Oguta LGA of Imo state who just returned from Indonesia and who was getting prepared for his Traditional marriage slatted for 27th December, 2016 was killed on 22nd of December, 2016 by one Inspector Michael Udeh of the Nigeria police force attached to Imo state command but posted to NNPC filling station as security guard after late Nduka had just finished buying fuel at the station. Sadly, Mr Friday Nduka was shot inside his car within the NNPC premises before his wife to be and his mother-in-law to be.
The annoying story according to an Eye witness had it that Mr. Nduka had just finished buying fuel at the NNP and shortly after words, one of the fuel attendants complained that her Phone had just been stolen perhaps by an unknown person. Apparently, the fuel attendant and the manager of the station suspected that the Phone might have been stolen by one of those customers or hangers on at the station. To this end, the security men now ordered that nobody should move out while they conduct a search for the missing Phone. Some of the customers saw the order as an embarrassment. Subsequently, hot arguments ensued between the fuel attendants and some of those who came to buy fuel.
Now, the eye witness said that the late Mr Nduka who, like other customers considered the situation as embarrassing to them told the police man standing very close to him that he didn’t know what they were talking about as he just finished buying his fuel and never saw any phone. He told them that he had a serious appointment and was rushing to meet up and couldn’t stand the delay after he had already wasted some time. The police Inspector one Micheal Udeh at this stage became angry with him and violent threatening to shoot anybody who dared his orders. Quietly, Late Mr Friday Nduka opened his car door and entered as he just merely went inside his car to sit since his new bride and his mother-in-law were already seated inside the Car. He had not driven out the car and before a twinkle of an eye, the haggard and Drunken looking police Inspector approached him while he was still inside the Car and again ordered him to come out or else he would deal with him. At this stage, hot arguments ensued again between the Policeman and Late Nduka including his new wife and mother-in-law. Instantly, the Police Inspector Udeh retreated a bit backwards, positioned the nozzle of his gun on Late Friday Nduka and immediately released the Trigger. He shot at Late Friday Nduka three times on his Chest and killed him instantly before his new wife and Mother-in-law.
Immediately, the policeman suspecting that there might be reaction from the crowd and on lookers, he started shooting sporadically on the air to wade off people before he finally escaped and ran away. His action infuriated the people around as there was a serious commotion and pandemonium thereafter. Immediately, police men arrived the area and took the lifeless body of Late Friday Nduka and deposited it at the FMC Murtuary.
