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Miss Emmanuella Chiamaka Mark, the four-month old child of Bright Mark Chinatu, the taxi driver who was reportedly killed by a Police officer at Rumuokoro Junction, in Port Harcourt on February 18, 2018, last Monday led members of the Rivers State Civil Society Organization, the Drivers Welfare Association and others in a protest against the slaying of her late father.
Our reporter gathered that late Bright Chinatu Mark was murdered in cold blood on Sunday afternoon at the Rumuokoro roundabout on East West road by an escort Police officer.
21 year old wife of the slain driver, Precious Kelechi Mark, lamented that the Police hierarchy in the state had not visited the family since the day of the incident. She called on the Police, Rivers State Government and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that justice is done by arresting the killer cop and prosecuting him according the law.
Mrs Mark who is just 1 year and 2 months old in marriage said life had become unbearable for her since the death of her husband.
Comrade Lekia .P. Isaac, chairman of the Drivers Welfare Association in Rivers State said its union is in support of the demand for justice. He said Justice should be comprehensive and the Police hierarchy should give serious orientation to their men to desist from harassing taxi drivers in the state. Isaac further noted that the Police had even taken over the union work in most of the parks in Rivers State.
Chairman of Rivers State Civil Society Organization Comrade Georgewill Enefaa said the protest became necessary owing to the failure of the Police to arrest the killer cop days after the incident, even when the spokesperson of the Police, Omoni Nnamdi had allegedly claimed the cop was on transit and not serving in state. Enefaa said the Rivers State Civil Society Organization will do everything legally possible to ensure Justice is done on the matter.
In a release last Saturday, spokesman of Rivers Civil Society Organization (RIVSCO), Comrade Green I. Isaac, had lamented that “seven days after the incident the Police has blatantly refused to visit the family of the deceased who left behind a 4 month- old infant and a young wife of 21years, a marriage that was just consummated 1 year and 2 months ago. Instead the police told the family nothing can be done until the return of the Commissioner of Police who is perhaps on a vacation with his family abroad and to return in 3weeks.
“It will also interest you all to know that the police have also been pestering the deceased family to get more money in order to carry out their lawful duty as assigned to them in the constitution of the federal Republic.
“We want to let the Police understand that this is one death too many and that as civil rights organization we will no longer keep quiet and watch as this injustices continue. We are demanding that Police take the following steps to bring Justice in other to avoid future occurrences and also serve as deterrent to others,” Green said.
Other members of the Rivers State Civil Society Organization present at the briefing include Comrade Green Isaac, Comrade Michael Gbarale and Barrister Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna.
However, spokesperson of the Rivers State Police, Omoni Nnamdi debunked suggestions that the Police might not be interested in continuing investigation into the matter, adding that the command is also looking for the Police officer who killed the driver.
In a statement, the Police command, pointed out that “on February 18, 2018 when the incident occurred, the commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, personally visited the scene with men of the command to contain the situation and restore normalcy to the area.
“It is also on record that the CP spoke with the wife and family of the deceased and assured them that the command would spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“May we also place on record that on Monday, February 19, 2018, the wife and family of the deceased and the NURTW leadership (in the state) were at the command headquarters to see the DCP, Finance and Administration, DCP Cyril Okoro, who personally shared in their pains,” the statement read.
