The Anambra State Police Command has debunked stories circulating that three persons were killed in Onitsha last Friday during the flag off campaign of the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye.
In a statement by Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Nkeiruka Nwode, the command exonerated the APC of any killing during the rally, saying there was no iota of truth in the stories trying to link the party with the fracas that erupted at Nkpor near Onitsha the same day.
While dissociating the party from the killing, the Police Command reported that following the shooting incident and disturbance of public peace at Tarzan Junction, Nkpor, along the popular Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on October 20, 2017, the command needed to set the records straight.
“At about 6pm on 20/10/2017, a police patrol team on stop and search duties stopped the driver of a suspected Camry vehicle for routine check.
“The driver failed to stop as directed. He was chased by the police team from Dennis memorial Grammar School (DMGS) roundabout, Onitsha and subsequently accosted at Tarzan Junction, Nkpor as a result of traffic build-up.
“In a bid to search the vehicle properly, a melee ensued and the driver was shot by police.
“Unfortunately the driver died on the spot. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 15 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.”
The command reported that an angry mob in the area set a security pick-up van that was seen approaching the junction ablaze and the driver escaped unhurt, narrowly.
“Sadly, a motor boy on an approaching trailer vehicle on sighting the angry mob jumped down from the trailer and lost his life at the spot. He was reported to have been crushed to death by a hit-and-run vehicle.” Nwode added.
The Command warned the people of the area to avoid spreading rumours capable of agitating the people and orchestrating unrest, assuring them that there was no connection between the killings and the campaign.
Meanwhile, political opponents of the party had made political investment from the incident, accusing the party and its candidate, Nwoye, of having the penchant for causing mayhem.
Mrs Nwode called on the people of the State to desist from peddling unverified and inaccurate information having the capacity to stir unrest and spur agitations, as she assured them that things had returned to normal and were now going on smoothly.
