Andrew Ochekwo: IGP Directs Thorough Investigation, Assures Justice
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Monitoring Unit to conduct a thorough and high-powered investigation into the suspected murder of one Andrew Ochekwo.
The Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday said the directive comes amid the numerous allegations, arguments, and counterarguments surrounding the case which has become one of public interest because of the gravity of the allegations.
TheFact Daily learns that the Police Force has come under fire after a suspect, Andrew Ochekwo, who was accused of kidnapping two ladies in Aba, Abia State, died in police custody while en route to Abuja where the case had been transferred.
The two ladies, Celine, a Nigerian, and Afiba, a Ghanaian, had travelled from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after Ochekwo, whom they met on Facebook, invited them to his home. After the ladies went missing, Ochekwo was subsequently arrested by the Aba Police Divisional Headquarters for being in possession of ‘women’s belongings’.
Despite the evidence suggesting the women had visited him, Ochekwo reportedly refused to confess to any wrongdoing.
After the incident, Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who brought the situation to light through a series of Facebook posts, said numerous other women came forward with testimonies, claiming that Ochekwo had previously kidnapped and attempted to murder them before they managed to escape.
The severity of the case led to its transfer from Aba to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Abia State Police Command in Umuahia, and eventually to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
This move came after an unidentified individual petitioned the IG, alleging that Ochekwo was living in relative comfort while in custody.
The situation took a grim turn when Gwamnishu revealed in another post that Ochekwo had been killed while being transported by policemen from Abia to Abuja.
According to Adejobi, the Monitoring Unit is to meticulously investigate the roles played by the team which carried out the initial investigation in Abia State, while the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) unravels the veritable facts of the matter.
The Monitoring Unit has been given a two-week timeframe to complete its investigation and present a comprehensive report.
While assuring that the case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and integrity, the IGP urged all well-meaning members of the public and all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the investigation process to proceed without interference.
“Similarly, all persons/groups with relevant information regarding this case are encouraged to come forward and assist with the investigation, and all such information provided will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality, reach us via email at pressforabuja@police.gov.ng, and our social media accounts”, the statement said, and promised that “updates will be provided as the investigation progresses”.
