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Civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, urged Imo State Police Command to explain to Nigerians how come two sets of suspected killers were said to have killed Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Owerri, Imo State, over a year and half.
Gulak was gruesomely murdered by gunmen on May 30, 2021, on his way to Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri.
The group tasked the Imo State Police Command on professionalism, compliance to global best practices and adherence to the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the South-east of Nigeria.
HURIWA, in a statement by its national coordinator, comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, recalled that in June of this year, almost six months ago after one year of that dastardly act, anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command had announced that it had arrested one of the suspected killers of Gulak.
It said: “The police said in June 2022, that one Anosike Chimaobi of Umuedo Obohia, in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Council of the state was involved in the killing just as the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, who paraded the suspect on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Mohammed Barde, before newsmen in Owerri, said Chimaobi, who later confessed to the kidnap of one Jude Nwahiri, at Eke Nguru junction, Aboh Mbaise council, was equally involved in the attack and murder of many police officers and collection of their rifles. He listed exhibits recovered from the suspect to include: one locally made pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, one Biafra flag, on IPOB and ESN war flag and 30 cutlasses.
The police, HURIWA said had in June this year explained: “Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden colour. Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken.
“With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Council. The hoodlums were met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with onions from the north.
“On sighting the police, the hoodlums, providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The gallant and battle ready Police officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered. Three AK 47 rifles, one pistol, five AK 47 magazines with 92 rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered.
HURIWA thus charged that: “Imo State Police Command should explain to Nigerians how come six months after it announced the decimation and arrest of the killers of Ahmed Gulak, the same operatives of Imo State Police Command , on Tuesday, reportedly arrested one Lance Corporal Nwangwu Chiwendu, a deserter from Nigerian Army, for allegedly killing several innocent people, including Ahmed Gulak, an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain and former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
HURIWA is wondering why those arrested for the same offence of killing Ahmed Gulak are yet to be prosecuted, and if they have been prosecuted, why the secrecy?
