The Igbo Traders Association, ITA, in Kano state has demanded for
justice over the gruesome murder of Tochukwu Iro by police officers in
Sabon Gari, Kano State on Wednesday, July 27.
Tochukwu Iro, a patent medicine dealer was shot by trigger-happy police
officers attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Kano
state Police Command.
According to eyewitness accounts, the 40-year-old married father of two
children from from Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State
was allegedly killed at about 12 noon Wednesday along France Road,
opposite First Baptist Church in Sabon Gari area of the state.
One of the eyewitnesses who spoke to International Centre For Investigative Reporting(ICIR)
“On Wednesday afternoon, at about 12 noon, we saw Tochukwu
walking along the road, as he tried to negotiate Illaro Road, two armed
police men walked up to him. They came with tinted glass car. They
stopped the car close to First Baptist Church, crossed the road and
ordered Tochukwu to stop. When he stopped, there was a mild argument
between him and the two armed men; and one of them who was wearing
Kaftan brought out a branded police rifle and shot him. When traders
around started shouting, the same man shot into the air and bundled the
victim into a waiting tricycle, while his partner crossed the road,
dashed into the car and zoomed off.”
Speaking during an emergency Press Conference organized by the Igbo
Traders Association at the Abubakar Rimi Market, chairman of the
traders, Chief Emmanuel Amadi disclosed that Iro died at Murtala
Muhammad Specialist hospital Thursday afternoon after a failed
operation.
“On that Wednesday, I was attending a market Board meeting with General
Manager of Abubakar Rimi Market, security chiefs and other stakeholders
when I received a call that one of our members was shot by the police
along France Road. I immediately told the market management and they
asked me to get more details over the incident. We made arrangements to
ensure that he was taken to hospital for treatment.
“Around 9 p.m. on that Wednesday, I put a call across to Murtala
Muhammad Hospital and I was told that he was responding to treatment. On
Thursday morning, I called the hospital and was told that he was taken
to the theatre for operation; but it was so sad that this afternoon
(Thursday), we got the news that he could not survive the gun shot. As I
am speaking to you now, Tochukwu is dead.
“I have his file here and I can attest to the fact that he was a
peace-loving man. We have never known him as a criminal and that is why
we wondered why such an innocent man could be killed in such a gruesome
manner. Since the news of his death, we have not rested.
“The youths were here in our office this afternoon in protest over the
killing of their brother. They are demanding for justice. On our own, we
have pleaded with them not to take laws into their hands; and all we
are saying is that the killers of Tochukwu must be made face justice”
he stated.
The Kano Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Musa
Majia, who confirmed the incident claimed that the deceased was shot
because he refused to stop. A statement issued by the command below:
that on 27th July, 2016 at about 1200hrs a team of operatives attached
to Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS) based on tip off along France Road, stopped one Ogochukwu
Augustine `m’ of Odutola Street S/gari but he refused to stop. He was
subsequently pursued and while trying to escape, he was shot at the
hipbone and immediately rushed to Murtala Specialist Hospital where he
gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. The Commissioner of Police
Kano State Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf has directed for immediate arrest and
detention of the team leader and his men for interrogation at the State
CIID Kano. He also summoned the Elders of Igbo Community in Kano where
he sympathizes with them and assured that Justice will be done. The
Commissioner of Police also stated that his primary assignment is to
protect life and property and will not condone any Police personnel who
risk the life of innocent citizens. The outcome of the investigation
will be made public as soon as investigation is completed before further
action taken”
Source- ICiR