Death of Policeman: 52 Arrested, Properties Vandalised as Police Embarks on Reprisal in Anambra

- Monarch: Deceased Policeman  Killed Self, not Youths

About 52 persons have been arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) of the Nigeria Police in Umunze community, Orumba South council area of Anambra State over the death of an unidentified policeman who died during a fracas  with youths of the community.

It was gathered that youths of the community had last weekend been involved in violence, after three policemen who were in the community to effect arrest shot at some youths.

Anambra State Police Commissioner, Garba Umar, on had said that the youths attacked his men while on duty, killing one of them, adding that youths of the community have been arrested, and would be charged to court.

The traditional ruler of Umunze community, Igwe Promise Eze while reacting to the incident told journalists during a visit that the deceased policeman who was one of the three who came on arrest had shot sporadically, scaring members of the community, causing the youths to fight back.

He said the allegation of killing of a policeman by youths of his community was a lie.

"The policeman who died was not killed by youths of this community. Let me tell you how it happened, the three policemen had come from Umuahia, after someone lodged a complain to them about the beating of his child by a neighbour, but the policemen came and arrested youths of the community.

"So, they came back the next day to arrest more youths, but they resisted, insisting that they cannot be arresting people over a small matter, but the policemen started shooting. Four of the youths were affected in the shooting, until they ran of bullets and the youths started beating them.

"My President General was alerted, and he rushed to the scene and intervened. He ordered for the policemen to be taken to hospital, but while they were being taken there, one of the policeman jumped out of the vehicle and died. So he was not even killed by the youths."

The monarch lamented that since after the incident, policemen from SARS have been terrorising the community, arresting everyone in sight, destroying properties and stealing some of them.

"So far, police has arrested 52 persons, burnt down one hotel, while another was vandalised and looted. Cars were also destroyed too by the policemen.

"We are calling on the federal government to look into the activities of SARS because what they did in this community is terrible. My people have all fled this community for fear of arrest, and we are calling for a full investigation into the matter, as the police is presently portraying us as a hostile community, which is not true.

"We have been living safely with police in this community, until some policemen started terrorising this community, extorting money from the people."