The arrest of Inspector Stanley Azuh from Ohuru-Ishimiri Police Division at Ogbor-Hill, Aba, for the alleged killing of Chibuisi Godwin was confirmed by the Abia State Police Command on Monday.
Godwin, an employee of Greenmac Energy Ltd, a Petroleum Company, was reportedly shot by the Inspector while enforcing Abia Government’s ‘Stay at Home’ directive aimed at controlling the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.
The incident occurred in Ogbor-Hill, along New Umuahia road in Aba on Sunday evening. Godwin, whose job was classified as essential services not restricted by the lockdown order, was going to work when the tragic event took place.
According to a police source, the shooting occurred as Azuh tried to stop a vehicle that violated the lockdown order and mistakenly touched his rifle’s trigger, resulting in the fatal injury to Godwin, who later succumbed to his wounds in the hospital.
Abia State Police Commissioner, Ene Okon, affirmed the arrest of the officer and stated that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is handling the investigation.
Okon emphasized the gravity of the incident, saying, “That police Inspector was arrested immediately and detained; as I am talking to you, SCID has taken over the matter and they are investigating the police Inspector for murder. We have our rules of engagement, we have our standards of operation and procedures and we have our own Force Order 237 as reviewed. That order has to do with when a police officer has to use his firearm and it will be justified. It’s not an excuse for you to say accidental discharge.”
“A trained officer on such assignment should put his riffle on safety mode; the riffle has a safety mode and once you put it there, it will not just release anyhow. So, it is not an excuse that he mistakenly touched the trigger. That’s why we detained him and are seriously investigating the whole matter,” Okon added.