Enugu Police Vows to Fish Out Killers Of Catholic Priest, LGA Secretary

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Sunday, March 24th, 2019

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The newly posted Enugu state police Commissioner (CP), Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, has assured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that his Command is doing everything possible to fish out killers of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Clement Ugwu and the Secretary to the Uzo-Uwani council area of the state, Dr. Nnamdi Ogueche.

The victims who were recently kidnapped at different places and days, by unknown gunmen, were later murdered by their abductors, who dumped the Rev. Fr.’s lifeless decomposing body in a bush.

According to the police, after killing the Catholic Cleric, the hoodlums took away his Automated Teller machine card (ATM) which they used in withdrawing money from his bank account.

Meanwhile, the Command has condemned media reports indicating that the victims were murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen, stressing that “the perpetrators of the heinous acts were yet-to-be identified contrary to reports in some sections of the media.

CP Balarabe, who gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor Friday at the Government House, Enugu, said that one of the reasons for the visit was to condole with him on the incidents, saying: “My command deeply and sadly condole His Excellency on these unfortunate deaths”.

The Enugu state police boss, told Ugwuanyi that the visit was also to formally introduce himself as “the new Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command” and to congratulate him on his reelection.

African Examiner reports that the state police public Relations officer PPRO, Ebere Amarizu, had earlier in a statement stated that “the investigation is still ongoing to unmask those behind the dastardly acts as well as their motives”.

The statement added that “the command views the media report as improper, malicious and inciting as the ongoing police investigation has not revealed those responsible for the unfortunate incidents including their background”.

According to him, “the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, working in partnership with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders is committed towards sustaining peace and security in the state”.

In his remarks, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who welcomed and congratulated the new CP on his “posting to this very important and strategic office”, said “following our meeting with security agencies in the state, we are also confident that the command will as usual, do everything necessary to apprehend the hoodlums”, praying that similar incidents do not recur.

He noted that his administration in its resolve to ensure security of lives and property of the people as well as the maintenance of peace in every corner of Enugu State, has “always maintained an excellent partnership with the Enugu State Police Command and other security agencies in the state”.

The governor added that “this relationship has largely been responsible for the current status of the state as one of the safest, most peaceful and most secure states in the country”.

While expressing gratitude to the command “for its vital contributions towards the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election in Enugu State”, Gov. Ugwuanyi reassured the new CP of “the continued support and cooperation of the state government to ensure an even more laudable performance of the command under your watch”.