By Wilson Adekumola
A centenarian in Azuokpe village, Umudim, Ibagwa-Ani, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Pa Nicholas Ugwoke has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over an alleged invasion of his home and abduction of his son, Kingsley Chika Ugwoke.
The 101-year-old man, who was said to be the oldest man in the village, alleged that some policemen invaded his house, carted away family properties, wreck havoc in his house and shot his son and took him away.
PA Ugwoke lamented that till date the whereabout of 33-year-old graduate son is unknown to the family.
While expressing worries over what has become of his son, the centenarian said it was painful that till date nobody has told him or members of his family why his house was invaded and destroyed and his last son shot and taken to unknown place.
In the petition which was copied to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Commissioner of Police, the old man alleged that “on July 11, 2022, a team of armed police officers in 7 Hillux Vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished taking his morning bath”.
Part of the petition reads, “I am the eldest man in Azuokpe village, aged 101 years (as at September 2022 when petition was written) and the father of Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who is my last born and just graduated from Enugu State University of Science and Technology(ESUT), wherein he studied Microbiology and was working towards his clearance to enable him participate in the National Youth Service Corps.
“While my son Ugwoke Kingsley was awaiting call up letter for the National Youth Service, our village, Ibeagwa-Ani, set up a local vigilante to assist the Nigeria Police in maintaining law and order in our village. He was head of the vigilante.
“Unfortunately, on the 11th day of July, 2022, a team of armed police officers in seven Hills vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished his morning bath.
“After shooting him between the hours of 9.30sm and 10am, the said team of police officers threw him into a Hillux van as if he was a lifeless wood. They equally arrested three other boys in and around my compound and took them to Nsukka Central police station.
“All these happened without any resistance from Ugwoke Kingsley who was repeatedly crying in a very loud voice, demanding to know what offence he has committed.
“Two hours later, the same team of police officers came back to my house and destroyed my house which I built in 1960 and was only renovated recently.
“The level of destruction in my house was heartrending and mind boggling to the extent that all the glass windows, doors, bookshelves, standing fans, among other things were all vanished.
“As if these destructions were not enough, CG motorcycle, Summec 27000 generator and bags containing my clothes and that of the household were carted away. The worst was that the diabetic drugs being taken by my sick wife were not spared by these stern looking police officers”, Pa Ugwoke lamented.
He explained further that since the sad incident happened in his house, his family had combed every necessary places in Enugu in search of Kingsley but “no police officer has explained to my family the allegations against my son, Ugwoke Kingsley Chika and his whereabout”.
Pa Ugwoke urged the IGP to order a thorough investigation into the incident and get to the root of what happened to his son.
Contacted on the petition, the State Police Command Public Relations Officers, DSP Daniel Ndukwe said, “I’m sure the petition would’ve been endorsed for investigation. But I’ll have to verify, please”.