The House Committee on Public Petitions of the House of Representatives, led by Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba has summoned the commissioner for police, Enugu State, over a petition against two police officers who allegedly tortured and killed a commercial tricycle (Keke) driver identified as Mr. Kingsley Agwuna (Alias Temple).
ExpressiveInfo gathered that during the Committee hearing on Tuesday, 11th February, 2025, a petition was read, where two police officers, DSP Uche Okeke, the D. C. O. Unity Police Division, Nike, Enugu State, and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi (IPO) were accused of torturing and extra judicially killing late Kingsley Agunwa.
The petitioner, Barr. Hyginus Ibega who was present at the hearing revealed that late Mr. Kingsley Agwuna who died on 8th September, 2024 was a father of two, was widely known by commuters and residents of Abakpa Nike axis of Enugu State where he did his business.
According to the petitioner, on 5th September, 2024, late Mr. Kingsley Agwuna went to a restaurant close to his home to eat, after closing from work. It was at that moment that a group of boys who collect revenue from transporters of Agricultural Produce, had an encounter with the Men of Unity Police Station, Abakpa Nike in Enugu State. The fracas came up as a result of the Produce Boys demanding toll fees from the group of mini-vehicles coming down to Enugu from the New Nsukka – Opi Express Way. The Police guiding the vehicles from the produce tax collectors, on reaching the junction close to where late Mr. Kingsley was seated, was caught up in a fight between the drivers and the produce tax boys. An eyewitness confirmed that the Police headed by D. C. O. Uche Okeke of Unity Police Division, called for re-enforcement. By the time the re-enforcement arrived, most of the produce tax boys had taken to their heels. This preempted the Police to go on an arrest spree, arresting everyone they could in the area, including late Mr. Kingsley Agwuna who had nothing to do with the issue.
The petitioner went on to say that Agunwa was subsequently tortured by the Police, and never allowed to contact his wife or any of his relatives. Then, on 8th September, 2024 (three days after searching for Mr. Kingsley by his family and friends), the family was contacted by one Comptroller Sunday Oyakhire, who asked them to come to Park-lane General Hospital to see their son. In a mixed feeling of joy and sadness, the family rushed down to see their missing son. Unfortunately, the wife and other family members were shown lifeless body of Mr. Kingsley Agunwa.
When the family asked questions on what happened, they were told that the deceased was brought to them by Men of the Unity Police Division, Enugu in a battered condition. He was seriously wounded that he could not even stand erect. He was reported to be grinning in pains, and struggling to breathe. This was so bad that the Officers of the Correctional Centre rejected him outright, as he was showing clear signs of giving up the ghost. But the Police pleaded with the Prison Officers, stating that they could not revert the Court order asking to keep him in custody. The Correctional Service Officers insisted that the only condition to accept him, is that the Police must sign an indemnity (undertaking), stating critical state of late Mr. Kingsley Agwuna as at the time he was brought in. Bent on perpetuating their dastard acts at the detriment of the poor dying soul, the men of Unity Police Division signed an undertaking and dumped the deceased at the Correctional Service Centre.
The petitioner also stated that all those arrested with the deceased attested that he was terribly tortured by the Police, which led to serious internal injuries. This is how a healthy looking innocent citizen was killed by the men of the Unity Police Station in Enugu State. The entire family, especially his young wife and two children are in severe pain and heartbroken at the moment.
The unnecessary killings, harassment and abuse of innocent citizens by the Nigeria Police cannot be overemphasised.
The petitioner therefore, pleads with the House Committee on Public Petitions for justice. He urges the House through relevant authorities, to investigate the involvement of the Nigeria Police and two of its officers – DSP Uche Okeke (the DCO of Unity Police Station) and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi (the IPO), to unveil their involvement in the dastardly act that led to the painful and untimely death of Mr. Kingsley Agwuna. He urges the Inspector General of Police to prosecute DSP Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi for the gruesome, painful and extra-judicial killing of Mr. Kingsley Agwuna.
Finally, the petitioner urges the House to direct the Inspector General of Police to pay adequate compensation to the family of the deceased who left behind, an aged mother, a wife and two kids aged two-years and three-months respectively.
Since the respondents were not at the hearing, the House Committee led by, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba summoned the Enugu State Commissioner of Police; Comptroller, Nigeria Correctional Service; DSP Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi to appear in a subsequent hearing.
