She
was still in tears and getting her to talk was a very difficult task. Her eyes
were in red and her mood very low. She was yet to come to terms with the cruel
fate that befell her husband five days after their wedding. Joan, widow of
Ugochukwu Ozuah, the man that was shot dead by men in police uniform, was still
in shock.
She looked pale as family members and
sympathizers surrounded her, offering her consolation. She only looked into
nothingness, unable to understand the tragic turn of event just five days after
the couple’s union. “Police killed my husband five days after our wedding,” she
managed to say if she was just breaking the news. “They robbed me of marital
bliss that every young couple yearns for.
sympathizers surrounded her, offering her consolation. She only looked into
nothingness, unable to understand the tragic turn of event just five days after
the couple’s union. “Police killed my husband five days after our wedding,” she
managed to say if she was just breaking the news. “They robbed me of marital
bliss that every young couple yearns for.
The President and Inspector general of
Police must fish out my husband’s killers among the police,” she added in an
emotion-laden voice as she laid on her mother-in-law, obviously for some
emotional support. Controversy has trailed the murder Ozuah last Thursday at
UPS Junction in Gbagada area of Lagos as his friend and family members claimed
that he was killed by the police. But police authorities in the state denied
the allegation, saying the deceased was actually killed by armed robbers.
Ozuah, according to his bereaved family, had seen off a friend, who came to
visit him at home.
Police must fish out my husband’s killers among the police,” she added in an
emotion-laden voice as she laid on her mother-in-law, obviously for some
emotional support. Controversy has trailed the murder Ozuah last Thursday at
UPS Junction in Gbagada area of Lagos as his friend and family members claimed
that he was killed by the police. But police authorities in the state denied
the allegation, saying the deceased was actually killed by armed robbers.
Ozuah, according to his bereaved family, had seen off a friend, who came to
visit him at home.
He was said to have been accosted by
men in police uniform, who shot him while dropping off his friend at the bus
stop. His bereaved mother, Deaconess Chinwe Ozuah, also insisted that police
shot dead his son and demanded for justice. Yesterday, in an exclusive chat
with Daily Sun, the deceased’s widow also reiterated the family’s position
while recalling her last moment with her late husband. Amid tears, she
recalled: “My last moment with my dear was when he came home and told me that
he would come back in a moment and went out to drop his friend.”
men in police uniform, who shot him while dropping off his friend at the bus
stop. His bereaved mother, Deaconess Chinwe Ozuah, also insisted that police
shot dead his son and demanded for justice. Yesterday, in an exclusive chat
with Daily Sun, the deceased’s widow also reiterated the family’s position
while recalling her last moment with her late husband. Amid tears, she
recalled: “My last moment with my dear was when he came home and told me that
he would come back in a moment and went out to drop his friend.”
Apparently downcast, Joan was lost
again in thought making the younger sister to the deceased. Mrs. Uzor Nwogu
queried the insensitivity of the police to the plight of the family “The police
are being callous because we expect that they would have at least visited the
grieving young widow and the aged mother. We are not expecting anything much
more than for them to say ‘don’t worry, we are there for you. We are
investigating the matter. We will get back to you.’ “But not even a phone call
was made to us since Ugo was killed.
again in thought making the younger sister to the deceased. Mrs. Uzor Nwogu
queried the insensitivity of the police to the plight of the family “The police
are being callous because we expect that they would have at least visited the
grieving young widow and the aged mother. We are not expecting anything much
more than for them to say ‘don’t worry, we are there for you. We are
investigating the matter. We will get back to you.’ “But not even a phone call
was made to us since Ugo was killed.
We want justice on Ugo’s case. The
police can’t just shoot a Nigerian and dump him on the road side like a
chicken. We must resist such evil practice. Nigerians must rise up to resist
that.” Her position was corroborated by the elder sister to late Ugo, saying
the time has come for authorities of the Nigerian Police to attach value to
lives of victims of their excesses. “There is no reason why they (police)
should not take action on this issue. It is high time the leaders and officers
of the police force started attaching value to human lives in this country.
police can’t just shoot a Nigerian and dump him on the road side like a
chicken. We must resist such evil practice. Nigerians must rise up to resist
that.” Her position was corroborated by the elder sister to late Ugo, saying
the time has come for authorities of the Nigerian Police to attach value to
lives of victims of their excesses. “There is no reason why they (police)
should not take action on this issue. It is high time the leaders and officers
of the police force started attaching value to human lives in this country.
Police are supposed to protect us and
give us that sense of value to human lives but they are the one killing us. “My
brother could have been the president of this country. He was doing his Masters
programme at the University of Lagos and the students of his department were
here yesterday (Monday) to inform us that they had declared a lecture-free day
for Ugo. “It has never happened in the history of the department but in Ugo’s case
it happened. That is to tell you how valuable he was to the department even as
a student.
give us that sense of value to human lives but they are the one killing us. “My
brother could have been the president of this country. He was doing his Masters
programme at the University of Lagos and the students of his department were
here yesterday (Monday) to inform us that they had declared a lecture-free day
for Ugo. “It has never happened in the history of the department but in Ugo’s case
it happened. That is to tell you how valuable he was to the department even as
a student.
He was a mechanical engineer and also a
computer engineer. He was running a full time masters programme but was also
doing a private business. “We are so disappointed in the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) because she just sat in her office and was making
callous statement on the issue.
computer engineer. He was running a full time masters programme but was also
doing a private business. “We are so disappointed in the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) because she just sat in her office and was making
callous statement on the issue.
We expected her to say ‘we send our
condolences to the grieving family and we shall thoroughly investigate the
matter and we will get to the bottom of this matter.’ It is so insensitive for
her to just sit there in her office and make callous statement on this matter.”
condolences to the grieving family and we shall thoroughly investigate the
matter and we will get to the bottom of this matter.’ It is so insensitive for
her to just sit there in her office and make callous statement on this matter.”
