There were protests by Nigerian youths in some states in October 2020 against police brutality. The protesters also called for the disbandment of SARS, a police unit notorious for extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
The heartbreaking story of police brutality in Nigeria, especially by the operatives of the Awkuzu Police Division, popularly known as Awkuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad has continued to reverberate as families still demand their loved ones arrested under the command of the retired CSP James Nwafor.
There were protests by Nigerian youths in some states in October 2020 against police brutality. The protesters also called for the disbandment of SARS, a police unit notorious for extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
A Twitter user, @Ada_mummyya, who had in July 2020 cried over the arrest and the killing of her brother, Chijioke, by James Nwafor and his men reawakened her family’s demand to the Nigeria Police Force for the release of her brother’s remains.
On July 9, 2020, @Ada_mummyya tweeted saying, “Today, I found out @CspJamesNwafor the man responsible for the disappearance (or possibly death) of my brother is on twitter. This beast kills for fun and claims he's untouchable. @anambrastate_ and @GovObiano must stop protecting this man so he can pay for his crimes!
“He claims that nothing can happen to him, he was responsible for dumping over 100 dead bodies of young men in the Ezu river at the borders of Enugu and Anambra in 2012. Had my father swimming in a river filled with dead bodies to see if he can find his son!
“This man denied ever arresting my brother and while my parents were leaving his office, they saw him being led in and my parents identified him immediately. This man ordered that my parents be pushed out of his "compound". Why lie?
“The next day this animal tells them point-blank that he had killed my brother and that they should do their worst! My mum collapsed immediately and was rushed to hospital, this animal deserves death!
“The scam started from there, lots of people told us he was bluffing and that we should bring money, we sold lands to pay for his release and he kept upping the amount! We went to the commissioner of police Anambra state who said his hands were "tied".
“The few people that ever left that cell said they saw my brother, we don't know how true, we were willing to pay anything but this animal frustrated us, the human rights guys we met in Anambra (maybe works with him, I don't know) scammed us too.
“However as long as I live, this man must answer for my brother's whereabouts one day! He must answer and that day will be soon. I won't relent or rest. Dead or alive, he must give us answers.”
In a repeat call and demand for her brother’s corpse and justice for the victim, @Ada_mummyya on Thursday morning lamented that her family is already tired of fighting as their efforts have continuously been frustrated.
He added that the family only wants the remains of their loved one for burial.
In a series of tweets, @Ada_mummyya who said the incident happened 10 years ago wrote, “Good morning @PoliceNG. I have a very delicate issue and I need your help.
“You see, next month will make it 10 years since my brother was taken from us by SARS (Awkuzu, Anambra state). One of your former employees, CSP James Nwafor Rtd, claimed he had killed him.
“Now that is no longer the problem, we have accepted our fate as there is nothing we can do to bring my brother back to life. However, we need his body. We just want to bury him properly please. Given that he wasn't convicted of any crime, we deserve to have his body.
“I know this has been a long while but my mother deserves this closure. I'm so sorry to be bothering you with this again but, dear @PoliceNG, I'm tired of my mother praying for his safe return. His body will put her out of her misery.
“I beg you in the name of whatever you hold dear. Please, put us out of this pain. Release Chijioke's body to us. Please. I'm sorry to bother you people and I hope you understand me. We are begging, please, just give us the body. Please.
“I promise never to disturb you all again, I will never tag you people or call you out again if you can just release us from this pain. My mum is yet again doing prayers for her son who is most likely dead. I can't convince her to let go but you can. @PoliceNG give us Chijioke.
“We are no longer fighting, we are no longer asking you for James Nwafor. We just want Chijioke, please. Next month will make it 10 years, please give us Chijioke's body. Please, pardon me for everything and save us from this pain. @PoliceNG let us bury him at home, please.
“Please fellow Nigerians, help us beg them. I am tired, I am very tired of prayer houses and dreaming of his return. I want to move on but this is the only way. Chijioke deserves to be with his family even if he's dead. Help us, please. Please. I'm sorry. Please.
“It can also just be a body part. Something we can prove to be him and that's all. I will never disturb you all again. Just a body part we can test and be sure it's him. Anything at all. Please @PoliceNG, please don't ignore me. I beg you, please. I promise, I am tired. Please.”
Reacting to @Ada_mummyya’s family demand, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police need more details to enable them to respond to the matter.
“Pls, we need to have more facts about this, u will need to send a letter to us thru our official email [email protected]. then we take it up from there. It's well,” he said.
Today, I found out @CspJamesNwafor the man responsible for the disappearance (or possibly death) of my brother is on twitter. This beast kills for fun and claims he's untouchable. @anambrastate_ and @GovObiano must stop protecting this man so he can pay for his crimes! pic.twitter.com/0U3qc0hhBy
— Where is Chijioke? (@Ada_mummyya) July 9, 2020
Good morning @PoliceNG. I have a very delicate issue and I need your help.
You see, next month will make it 10 years since my brother was taken from us by SARS (Awkuzu, Anambra state). One of your former employees, CSP James Nwafor Rtd, claimed he had killed him.
1/— Where is Chijioke? (@Ada_mummyya) October 5, 2022