The Anambra State Police Command on Thursday removed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Okpoko Division in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state for their alleged involvement in the murder of a 40-year-old driver, Nonso Uchenwoke. Three other officers of the division who led the operation in which the deceased was killed have been put behind bars.

Disclosing the information to journalists at the command headquarters in Awka, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hosea Karma, said the DPO and DCO were removed from their duty posts in order to allow for unhindered investigation of the matter. He said the three junior officers, including a lady, were detained at the State Criminal Department Awka.

Karma assured that if the police officers are found guilty they would be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that no one would be shielded.

In his words, “We are not going to shield anybody. Anybody who through his conduct violates the law or veers off from his professional training should be prepared to face the law.

“No law says you must not fail to arrest an offender. The policemen should have retreated when the victim resisted arrest, because by insisting to arrest the victim that night, the officer put his life at risk. He could have been the victim himself.”

While condemning the action of the police officers for insisting on arresting the deceased at 9pm in a brutal matter, Karma said the command had concluded arrangements to conduct an autopsy on the deceased. He said that all the parties involved in the matter should feel free to bring their independent doctors to observe the posthumous inquest.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in the state had earlier in the day said that it would ensure that justice is done in the alleged murder of Nonso Uchenwoke by the Okpoko policemen.

Anambra CLO Legal Secretary, Mr. Justice Ijeoma, stated this in a press briefing in Awka, the state capital. He said: “The Anambra State Police Command wants to play game with the alleged murder of the 40-year-old man.”

Uchenwoke, who hailed from Ihembosi Local Government Area of the state, was said to have been clubbed to death following a misunderstanding between him and a police lady, Ada Ojukwu.

Callistus Uchenwoke, the elder brother of the deceased, and Anambra CLO had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, on the issue.

•Photo shows ComPol Karma.