C’River family petitions COAS, demands justice for son allegedly murdered by soldiers
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Ekikienkpong family in Idum Mbube, Ogoja, in Cross River North, has petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya over the cold-blooded murder of their son, Late Joseph Peter Okpe.
Late Okpe, a 37 years old dealer in power bikes was allegedly murdered at a hotel in Ogoja by troops drafted from the Ogoja Battalion of the Nigerian Army, allegedly led by one Major on March 17, 2023.
The family wants the COAS to produce the killers of their son for trial.
This follows a petition by the family dated April 15, 2023 by Advocate Legal Chamber in Calabar.
The late Okpe was allegedly shot by the soldiers and the body was evacuated and taken to the military checkpoint and later handed over to the police under the guise of a political thug killed during an exchange of gunfire with the military.
Legal Counsel to the family who endorsed the Petition, E E Osim Esq opined that labeling the late Okpe as a political thug killed during a gun melee is a well “orchestrated cover-up meant to shield the culprit from justice”
“We want to Chief of Army Staff to know that soldiers drafted for election duty performed creditably while adhering strictly to global best practices.
“This heinous crime was committed hours before the commencement of the elections.
“This is not the case of unknown soldiers, we know the killers even though they have been hurriedly transferred from Ogoja Army Formation.
“Major Olayinka and co should be handed over to the Military Police for preliminary interrogation for onward handing over to the Nigerian Police for the law to take its cause, this is our earnest prayer”, he said.
Reacting to the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Sule Balarabe said “the killing of Mr. Peter Okpe is a pure murder case which should not be associated with the Governorship election and House of Assembly election-related violence.
“There was nothing like snatching of the ballot box or exchange of fire between political thugs and the military anywhere in the state contrary to online media reports.
“The young man was murdered on the eve of the election.
“Even our report to the headquarters regarding the conduct and outcome of the election did not capture the murder because the incident didn’t happen on election day
“We are treating it as a pure murder case and it is under serious investigation by a cracked team from the command”, he said.
The police boss added that they “would try as much as we can to be professional in our investigation”.
