Four policemen arrested over killing of mechanic accused of robbery in Rivers

Four police officers in Rivers have been arrested and detained over alleged torture to death of late Chima Ikwunado and inflicting injuries on four others arrested alongside the deceased.

The five men, who are auto mechanics, were arrested by officers of the E-Crack of the Rivers Police Command on false allegation of theft of vehicles.

One of them, Mr Ikwunado, was allegedly tortured to death during the process of trying to extract confession from him while in detention.

Police claimed that he died of complications from diabetes. The family had since refuted the claim.

The four others, who were released a fortnight ago, came out with wounds.

Lawyer to the family of the late Ikwunado, Princess Chinyere, revealed after meeting with the Ohaneze Indigbo and the Association of Ikokwu Traders in Port Harcourt that the police have arrested the police officers involved in the torture of the five men.

“I was called by the OC Homicide and I went with Chima’s elder brother, the father, Chima’s widow and some other persons went into the DCP’s Office,” the lawyer said.

“Before the proper interview started, I heard the DCP send somebody to the cell to bring the policemen. I was even surprised that the policemen came out, three of them were in uniform.

“We were informed that they had just come back from Abuja. One was said to be in the hospital. The DCP sent for him to be brought from the clinic and they brought him. So four of them I saw personally in police custody.”