… Officers Involved Have Been Detained ~ Police PRO
By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
Hundreds of youths in Omagwa Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday February 9, 2025 blocked the Omagwa section of the Port Harcourt – Owerri Road in protest of the brutal killing of one Bright Chukwuma Egbule by alleged police officers.
Bright Chukwuma Egbule, a father of six children was allegedly shot dead by officers from Omagwa Police Division on Saturday 8 February, 2025 in his compound at about 9 pm.
Reports have it that the angry youths were heading to the police station with the corpse to the Omagwa Police Station with the intention to set station ablaze when the chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Israel Agbosi intervened, promising to the ensure the officers responsible for the killing were fished out and made to face the law.
A source from the deceased family told our correspondent that late Chukwuma was in his compound with his wife on Saturday night when the policemen stormed the compound and allegedly opened fire on him.
“The officers came here last night with full force. They said they were looking for drug dealer, but they came into the compound here and killed an innocent man.
“It was on that note that the community mobilised and blocked the federal road with the corpse. We want the police to provide those officers that killed Chukwuma. All we need is justice for Chukwuma.
Addressing the protesters, chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Israel Abosi described the incident as unacceptable and unfortunate. He appealed to the angry youths not to take laws into their hands.
Abosi vowed that the council would not sleep on the matter, assuring them that the officers responsible for the extrajudicial killing would be made to face the law.
He however called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate the killing and ensure that the officers are fished out and punished accordingly.
Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, noting that the police officers involved in the incident had been arrested and detained while investigation ongoing.
The PPRO noted that the corpse had been deposited at the morgue, stressing that normalcy had been restored to the area.