Barth Okoye-Aniche Esq bemoans the disturbing increase cases of reported extrajudicial killings by security agents, particularly the Police in Abia State. Of recent, is the unfortunate killing of a citizen known as Mr. Friday Ifeanyi Arunsi in Ebem, Ohafia LGA of Abia state, that sent the angry youths into destruction of government owned properties which affected the High Court and Magistrate court complex, as well as Chief Umeh Kalu Bar Centre of Ohafia Branch of the NBA.

This ugly act of security personnel is highly condemnable especially this period when the lives of the greater part of the populace is being disrupted by the attendant effects of the raging covid-19 pandemic.

The preliminary report by the Commissioner of Police, Abia state has it that on the evening of 17th April, 2020 at Ebem-Ohafia within the Ohafia Judicial Division, a team of Policemen led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (whose name was not disclosed), and who were neither on duty nor on COVID-19 preventive assignment, went out in a private car belonging to one of them to a drinking joint where they got drunk and while going back home, the driver hit a truck off-loading goods.

In an ensuing argument between the Policemen and the people off-loading goods, one of the Policemen with a Police rifle started shooting sporadically under the influence of alcohol during which, bullet hit Mr. Ifeanyi Friday Arunsi who gave up the ghost.

Prior to this Ohafia incident it was reported sometime last week that an officer of National Security and Civil Defence Corps shot and killed a driver who was conveying foodstuffs, upon his refusal to give him money he demanded from the driver in order to pass the check point at Umuikaa, in Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia state. The same last week it was reported that a team of Police officers equally shot and killed a citizen at Tonimas junction in Aba, Abia State.

These acts and others of same nature are regrettable and condemnable to say the least. I equally condemn the snowballing consequence of the recent Ohafia extra-judicial killing which made the exasperated youths to take justice into their own hands by going on rampage of wanton destruction of Judicially properties cum the Ohafia branch Bar centre.

The rampage, and the looting of the Bar Centre is quite ill-conceived.
While I share my heartfelt sympathy with the family of late Friday Arunsi and others whose lives were lost in the hands of reckless security agents in Abia state. I also condemn the looting of the Courts and bar centre complex all in Ohafia.

I, therefore call on the State Government, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Abia State to cause a thorough, prompt and transparent investigation to be carried out and mete out Justice in this matter, and prevent further loss of lives of citizens in the hands of trigger happy security agents in Abia state and Nigeria as a whole.