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Save Our Souls: Petition and Protest To The Inspector General of Police over the Gruesome and Wanton Murder of Pa Amos Uhegbu and Others in Umunwanwa Community of Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria

January 5, 2010

Image removed.Dear Sir: After due consultation with our people at home, we, the representatives of Umunwanwa community of Umuahia, in Abia State of Nigeria in the Diaspora wish to and hereby bring to your attention, the unusual level of unlawful killings that have been inflicted on our people at home in Nigeria by faceless suspects and others whose activities and actions indicate that they may have played some roles to aid and abet the said gruesome and wanton murders. 


It has become necessary to resort to this medium to bring our heartfelt concern over these cold blooded murders to your attention and to the attention of the law.  Our concern is heightened on the one hand by the fact that these cold blooded killings in our community have been particularly systematic.  On yet the other hand, we are highly concerned by what is obviously the refusal of or neglect by the Nigerian Police Force in Abia State to promptly and rightly respond to these murders with the proper and vigorous investigation that would lead to the identification of the perpetrators and their paymasters, whosoever they are and wherever they might be lurking.  It is such that our law abiding community is currently shrouded in unspeakable fear, the sort that wreaks incalculable havoc in the lives of people.   
 
It has become pertinent for you to invoke your good offices to order an immediate and unfettered investigation or re-investigation of the said murders to save our law-abiding community and people from the ensuing lawlessness.  
 
Immediate and Not So Immediate Factors
Our petition is prompted by both immediate and not so immediate factors.  On November
18, 2009 our community was jarred by the murder of Pa Amos Uhegbu, a 75 year old, well-respected and outspoken elder in the village whom, from the information gathered from his children, appeared to have been strangled to death by unknown person(s).
 
Riding on the crest of that, on December 26, 2009, one Mr. Princewill Elendu orchestrated the arrest by the Police of Barrister Onyebuchi Uhegbu, the first son of the now late Pa Amos Uhegbu.
 
Further Particulars
1.    On November 18, 2009, the village of Umunwanwa woke up to the gruesome, barbaric and cold-blooded murder of Pa Amos Uhegbu.
2.    The children of Pa Uhegbu were contacted by their immediate neighbors and on that fateful date they promptly reported the matter of the father’s murder to the Police.
3.    When it became clear that the Police was not interested in preserving what was the crime scene, Pa Uhegbu’s children became compelled to take his body themselves and deposited it at the mortuary.
4.    Again, when it became apparent that the Police in Abia State was not prepared to investigate Pa Uhegbu’s murder, his children became apprehensive.  Their apprehension prompted them to consult and engage the services of an attorney, Mr Nwabueze Nwankwo who petitioned the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 9, Umuahia on their behalf on December 4, 2009 to bring to his attention what they consider the actions and inactions of Mr. Odudu Modebe, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ubakala Police Station, Their petition equally went to the Homicide Section of the State CID and the Commissioner of Police in Abia State with regard to their father’s murder and their prompt complaint about same, which was not given proper attention by Mr. Modebe.
5.    The Police in Abia State refused to follow proper procedure to enter the complaint lodged by the children of the late Pa Uhegbu as an incident and case of murder.  Neither did they order an autopsy on the deceased as was required.
6.    Instead, on December 26, 2009 a team of heavily armed policemen in full combat gear invaded and took position around the compound of the late Amos Uhegbu’s compound and subsequently shot their way in to arrest his son Barrister Amos Uhegbu without a warrant of arrest.  Their modus operandi which smacked of brigandage unbecoming of officers of the law, irked the villagers so much and gave them cause to accost the police invaders who there and then disclosed that they were sent by Mr. Princewill Elendu on the allegation that the children of the late Amos Uhegbu were planning to kidnap him. We must at this point call your attention to the fact that the report that was made to allege a plot to kidnap Mr. Elendu was lodged a little before the murder of Pa Uhegbu.
7.    So far, three people were put in police custody as suspects in Pa Uhegbu’s murder.  The release of two out of those three persons has been arranged by unknown persons. Mr. Princewill Elendu who is a principal suspect is still free and has not even been arrested or interrogated by the Police in Abia State.
8.    The one person, who is still in police custody over the murder of Pa Uhegbu, is one
Mr. Uzodinma Nkemakolam.  The said Mr. Nkemakolam may be a key credible witness whose safety ought to be guaranteed accordingly.  We pray that you use your good offices to prevail on the Abia State Police Command to ensure his safety.  Given the arbitrary and high handed tendencies that we associate the Police Command in Abia State with, Mr. Nkemakolam’s continued stay in their custody is not only dangerous, but it will also hamper and negatively affect a real investigation of Pa Uhegbu’s when you respond to our prayers in this petition to order one.

 Petition
It is on the strength of the afore stated particulars, coupled with our apprehension that the Police Command in Abia State has shown an unwarranted failure, refusal and or inability to effectively, and impartially investigate Pa. Uhegbu’s murder and other murders in our community at home with the aim to bring all offenders involved to book, that we make the following demands:
 
a)     Given that what may have taken place earlier as investigations into the murder of Pa Uhegbu, if any, were fraught with errors representing the vested interests of a wicked and criminal cabal that is being suspected to be behind the murder of Pa. Uhegbu and others before him; the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of extreme urgency order a fresh and complete investigation into the murders.  The IG of Police must remain on top of that investigation up until it concludes to ensure that the Abia State Police Command is not complicit in these murders or efforts to cover them up and protect habitual criminals who continue to inflict their atrocious crimes with impunity against the law-abiding Umunwanwa community at home.   
b)     Consider the removal of Mr. Uzodinma Nkemakolam from Police and to instead put him into protective custody with your over sight to preserve his life and limb as a key material witness.
c)      Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of the children of the late Pa Uhegbu and put an end to all acts of harassment against them by the Police, their agents or anyone else from or beyond Umunwanwa.
 
List of unsolved murders that have been inflicted on
Umunwanwa community in recent times:
1. Pa. Amos Uhegbu- 75 years old, a prominent Community Leader, retired 1st class Headmaster and prominent old boy of Methodist College Uzuakoli - killed on 18/11/2009- Main Suspect- Mr Princewill Elendu.
2. Mr Marcus Osondu, 18 years killed in 2005 – Main suspect - Onyeanula Nwosuocha
3. Sunday Nwosuoparaogu – Strangled in 1998-Suspect Unknown
4. Okezie Abba Nwosu beaten to death in 2008-Suspect Unknown
5. Theresa Alaribe murdered in 2000—Suspect Unknown.

Series of kidnappings and the torture of innocent
people in the community
The community has witnessed several incidents of kidnapping and even the torture of innocent people in the last several years.  None of the suspects in each and every case has been brought to book by the police.  There is no doubt that police inaction has emboldened the people who perpetrate these crimes on our people.  It is our belief that the Inspector General of Police is the one individual who must step in to save our people from continued abuse by those involved.  We pledge our full support to you in your efforts.

The issues involved transcend personal, socio-economic and political party affiliations. We strongly believe that there is a duty and constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety of our people.  How many Umunwanwa men and women must we lose or bury before the Police comes to our aid?   Why do we have the Police if notorious killers continue to go free? Why do we have the Police if known murderers are celebrated? Killers, murderers and kidnappers should not continue to walk free in Umunwanwa and in Nigeria.
 
We must mention that the Abia State Commissioner of Police recently invited our community leaders and one of the sons of the late Pa Uhegbu to a meeting on the 30/12/09.  His invitation was no doubt instigated by the petition made by the son of late Uhegbu and the community. We are grateful that the Police Commissioner was able to order the transfer of the investigation of Pa Uhegbu’s murder to the State CID. He also requested for an autopsy on his remains.  But we are saddened that the Commissioner acted several weeks after the murder. Why did the Abia Police Command ignore the initial complaint by the family?  Why did the Abia State Police Command wait for several weeks after a murder to initiate an investigation? Why has it taken this long to carry out an autopsy despite the numerous requests for one by the deceased’s family? Why did it have to take a letter of complaint and story in the Sun Newspaper for the Abia command to attempt an investigation?

We have lost confidence in and don’t feel protected by the Abia State Police Command and Ubakala Divisional Police, which is why we urge you to hand this case over to an independent Police Division.
 
Our hope is that you’ll help our community to bring closure to the untimely deaths of Pa Uhegbu and the others by ordering a proper investigation which will lead to the identification, prosecution and conviction of whosoever is behind these murders.

Posterity will never forget you.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Alozie Okwu USA

Nnaola Mbagwu-Chijioke USA

Uzosike Chukwudike USA

Onyebuchi Nwosu USA

Enyeremadu Nwosu USA

Sunny Mbagwu  USA

Bierechi Nwosu  USA

Kate Amuzie_Amajor  USA

Nwosuocha Sunday  USA

Chukwuma Mbagwu  USA

Onyeije Nwosuocha  USA

Chiabotu Chikwere USA

Okechukwu Uche  USA

Uchenna Olekanma    USA

Chinyere Ukauwa  USA

Edith Baby Nwosu  USA

Chief Nwade Ikedichi USA

Stanley Nwosuocha USA

Nwabueze Ehiobuche USA

Chief Chiawolam Nwosu USA


David Uzosike UK
 
Onyenma Okwu UK
 
Henry Amadiegwu UK

Nelly Akomas  UK

Omemgboji Ibeneche UK

Mrs Okechi Amuzie Obiora UK

Chinwe Amuzie Okoroafor  UK

Mbahotu Anyalewechi  UK
 
Chinedu Akobundu  UK

Chima Agonmuo  UK

Gladys Okwu  UK
 
Rose Akobundu- Sampson  UK

Akuchinyere  UK
 
Ajuruchukwu Nwosu  Holland

Humble Uche  Brazil
 
Innocent Nwosu Italy
To":6th January 2010
 
The Inspector General of Police
The Nigerian Police Force Headquarters
Abuja.
Cc
 
The Executive Governor of Abia State
The Speaker House of Assembly Abia State
The Senate President
The Speaker, House of Reps
The Secretary-General ECOWAS
The Secretary-General UN
British Deputy High Commissioner, Lagos
The Consular-General USA, Lagos
 
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