TheCable

A group known as Imo State Amalgamated Markets and Traders Association (ISAMATA) is protesting the alleged killing of their member by the police. 

A team of police officers who were reportedly carrying out an arrest at the popular timber market, allegedly shot dead Ebere Chibuike, a trader who “asked to know the offence of the suspect”.

Emmanuel Ezeanochie (aka Chenko), president of the association, said the group has repeatedly been pushed to the wall by the activities of the police officers.

He said the officers regularly visit the market to harass, molest, intimidate and arrest traders who had done nothing.

Ezeanochie said the police “cannot deny responsibility for the killing since it took place in the open”.

“I don’t know what to tell them if they deny being responsible for the killing. Who doesn’t know them by their faces in the market?” he asked.

“There is no week that passes without the police visiting the market and harassing and intimidating the traders.

“Denying responsibility for the killing will only make the situation worse because the incident took place in the open and it was obvious that one of the officers shot him dead.”

Ezeanochie also called on the state government and the commissioner of police to sanction the erring police officers and condole with the family of the deceased.

“We are calling on the Imo state government and the state commissioner of police to immediately place sanction on the erring police officers lest members of ISAMATA will take it upon themselves,” he said.

“The government should also consider the young family of the slain trader currently in agony and find a way to restore hope to them.

“Anything short of this will enrage the traders in the state.”

Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the Imo police command, denied that officers were behind Chibuike’s death.

“Information we have gathered so far indicates it wasn’t the police that shot the trader,” Okoye said.

“However, the DPO in charge of the area has since been mobilised to the scene for an on-the-spot analysis and discreet investigation.”