There is confusion over the murder of a middle-aged man, Onyeocha Umuokwu, in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The deceased, a domestic staff to one Engr Emeka Eze, was reportedly shot dead by an official of the Department of State Services who was attempting to shoot a cow running away from the house.

A source close to the family who claimed the suspect was a policeman, described the incident as painful.

“Onyeocha Umuokwu was shot by a police officer at Engineer Eze’s house on December 25, 2019, in Alor.

“A cow cut the rope which they used to tie it and started running. A police officer on duty aimed to shoot the cow, but mistakenly shot and killed Onyeocha Umuokwu. It is so painful,” the source said.

Reacting, Police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Mohammed, refuted the allegation that the act was committed by a policeman.

Describing the report as misleading, Mohammed said it was orchestrated by mischief makers targeted at portraying the police in bad light.

He said: “The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading report being circulated that one Onyeocha Umuokwu was allegedly shot by a police officer at Engineer Eze’s house on the 25/12/2019 in Alor Community, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.

“The report probably orchestrated by mischief makers who want to portray the police in bad light is totally misleading.

“In order to clear ambiguity and to set the record straight, on the 25/12/2019 at the residence of one Engr Emeka Eze of Umuokwu village, Alor, a DSS officer whose identity is yet unknown attached to a VIP allegedly fired gun shot at a cow in a bid to stop it from escaping but the bullet missed target and allegedly hit one Nnaemaka Nnabuenyi (a domestic staff of the said engineer) popularly known as Onyeocha and the victim died on the spot. The incident was not reported to police.

“Following the incident, police detectives led by DPO Nnobi Division visited the scene but neither the engineer nor the victim’s relatives were willing to provide any useful information that could aid police investigation.

“However, corpse was taken to the mortuary for autopsy and case is under investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The DSS denied that its officer was responsible for the incident.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, DSS National Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Peter Afunanya, the Service said: “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to a false story making the round that its member of staff, on December, 25, 2019, at Alor Community, Anambra State ‘while targeting a cow that was running away’, shot a native instead. It is not true that a DSS officer was responsible for this act.

“The Police have further issued a statement informing the public that it was yet to conclude its investigation to determine the actual killer of the person in question. However, enquiries have indicated that a member of a vigilante group in the area carried out the shooting.

The public is therefore urged to discountenance the story that the DSS officer shot anyone in the community. Arms handling in the Service is guided by strict control procedures and measures, such that none of its staff could have used his/her assigned gun to shoot an innocent native or escaping cow. The Service is professional and will remain so in the discharge of its duties. It is committed to the maintenance of peace and public safety across the country during and after the yuletide season.” (The Nation)

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