Frontline civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has tasked the Imo State Police Command on professionalism, compliance to global best practices and adherence to the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the South East of Nigeria.

The rights group has, therefore, challenged the Imo State Police Command to explain to Nigerians how come two sets of suspected killers were said to have gunned down erstwhile Presidential Adviser, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri, Imo State, over a year and half now.

HURIWA in a statement endorsed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, recalled that in June, this year, almost six months ago after one year of that dastardly crime of assassination of the prominent politician, the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command had announced that it has arrested one of the suspected killers of former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak. Gulak was gruesomely murdered on May 30, 2021, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri, by gunmen.

HURIWA recalled that the Police said in June 2022 that one Anosike Chimaobi of Umuedo Obohia, in the Ahiazu Mbaise Council Area of the State, was involved in the killing, just as the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, who paraded the suspect on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, before newsman in Owerri, said Chimaobi who later confessed to the kidnap of one Jude Nwahiri, at Eke Nguru junction, Aboh Mbaise Council Area, was equally involved in the attack and murder of many Police officers and collection of their rifles. He listed exhibits recovered from the suspect to include: one locally made pistol with two rounds of live ammunitions, one Biafra flag, one IPOB/ESN War flag and 30 war cutlasses.

The rights group recalled that the Police had in June, this year, explained: “Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken. With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums were met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria.”

Furthermore, HURIWA recalled that the police noted thus: “on sighting the Police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The gallant and battle ready Police officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered. Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN. The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co- victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESN members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers.

HURIWA has tasked the Imo State Police Command to explain to Nigerians how come six months after it announced the decimation and arrest of the killers of Ahmed Gulak, the same operatives of Imo State Police Command, on Tuesday, reportedly arrested one Lance Corporal Nwangwu Chiwendu, a deserter from Nigerian Army, for allegedly killing several innocent people, including Ahmed Gulak, an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain and former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

HURIWA recalled that the latest suspect, who was paraded at the Command Headquarters in Owerri, also reportedly confessed to have led his gang to carry out several attacks on Police Divisions, offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other facilities in the state.

HURIWA which strongly challenged the Police and other security forces to build up their intelligence and operate professionally so to eradicate the terrorists unleashing devastating violence in the entire South-East zone, however wondered why “there is a clear contradiction in the claims made by the Police regarding the assassination of the politician,

Ahmed Gulak.

The rights group asked why those arrested for the same offence of killing Ahmed Gulak are yet to be prosecuted or if they are being prosecuted, why the prosecution is such a secrecy that Nigerians were not aware.

“HURIWA has no business celebrating the ambiguities in the claims made by the Police consistently about the groups responsible for the attacks targeting strategic national security assets and the needless assassinations of citizens, including tens and hundreds of very innocent Igbo people, but the Rights group wants the security forces, in collaboration with the ministry of justice, to bring charges and prosecute all those the Police claimed to have arrested for their alleged culpability in the wanton destruction of individual and state assets, including mass killings of Igbo residents and other Nigerians resident in the East of Nigeria legitimately,” the statement read in part.

"We are sick and tired of all these periodic Nollywood or Hollywood movies staged by Police and the Nigeria Army whilst parading certain suspects they reportedly arrested and these media showmanship are just organised, choreographed and unleashed on the public space for the entertainment values of the audiences but the essence of law enforcement is not to organically stage media parades of suspects for mere consumption by media consumers but the job of law enforcement authorities is to get justice for whatever crime is committed against the Nigerian state and the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Let the Police, the Army, the DSS and all other law enforcement agencies in Imo State and the entire South East of Nigeria carry out their duties diligently and be guided by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rules of Engagement in internal security operations and operate within the precepts of the global best practices.

“Enough of these media shows and comedies of parading people after which nothing, by way of prosecution is ever heard and then the real killers or even those paraded and probably released from the backdoors, continue to unleash terrorism on the innocent masses,” HURIWA added.

Update news