Police sack Onitsha park over murder of cop 8/3/2009


From Adimike George, Onitsha

Anambra State Police Command yesterday sacked touts at the Aba park in Upper Iweka area of Onitsha. For several hours the police halted commercial activities in the area following an alleged lynching of a policeman at the park by the touts.

Although no official reason was given as to what led to the killing of the policeman, eyewitnesses said that the policeman had gone to arrest some touts who were smoking Indian hemp when the hoodlums beat him to death.

The incident attracted police reprisal as they moved into the park and adjoining areas shooting indiscriminately. Several arrests were made.

When newsmen visited the scene on Saturday afternoon, the police were still shooting indiscriminately, thereby forcing passengers, drivers, hawkers and touts to take to their heels for safety.

Traffic along the Onitsha-Owerri Road was stopped, which caused hold-ups along the expressway and adjoining roads.

Some of the people who ran away from the scene said that over one hundred persons have been arrested by the police during the operation.

When contacted, the police were not forthcoming with information. The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mr. Fidelis Agbo, said he would get in contact with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area.

The Onitsha Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nwamaka, said that he was not ready to say anything as he has not received full briefing from his men.

Does a cop have to die before they know that they have to rid the motorpark of touts?