A Police Officer, Insp. Ebri Ubi, who killed a businessman identified as Onyeka Ibe, for refusing to give a bribe of N100 in Asaba, has been dismissed from the Police force.
Protest rocked Asaba, the Delta State capital recently over the killing of a civilian identified to be a popular phone seller, by a trigger-happy police officer.
The slain youth identified as Onyeka Ibe, was said to be a trader in the Ogbogonogo market located along Nnebisi Road.
He was shot dead along Mgbolu-Illah Road within Asaba metropolis in controversial circumstances, which led to the closure of the nearby Police ‘A’ Division for fear of reprisal attacks.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that Ibeh was shot in the head by a member of police stop-and-search team on duty on the Mgbolu-Illah Road for refusing to part with N100.
It was gathered that the police officer claimed that the deceased was a yahoo boy or internet fraudster.
The suspect, Inspector Obi Ebri attached to the Area Command, Asaba later explained, “This afternoon, we embarked on township patrol on Illah road where we were doing stop and search. I heard a voice from about 10, 15 kilometers, hold him, hold him. Before I could turn, the young man used his left hand to ruffle rifle noozle and said I will kill you and go with your rifle.”
Following the brutal killing, the angry youths said to be from the Ogbogonogo market, stormed the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba and took Ibeh’s corpse and headed to the police headquarters, Okpanam Road.
More residents joined in the protest as they sighted the lifeless body of the late Ibeh. Some of them chanted, “For the sake of ordinary N100 a promising young man was killed just like that!”
While lamenting police brutality, they demanded for justice to be done to the deceased.
The command spokesman, Bright Edafe, in a statement issued, said the police commissioner on receipt of the sad news immediately ordered the arrest and detention of the errant police officer and directed his transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Edafe assured that the offending officer will be subjected to internal disciplinary measures, including criminal prosecution. He also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that justice will not just be done but will be seen to have been done.
However, Edafe Bright, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Inspector has been dismissed, adding that he will be charged tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
“INSPR Ubi Ebri has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police force and will be charged to court tomorrow Wednesday 19th April 2023. The court will be determined tomorrow,” he said.