The family of Mr Ikechi Nwaobia has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), alleging the extra-judicial killing of their son by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Umuikaa and Aba North. They are demanding justice and accountability for the incident.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, with the family accusing the state police command of shielding the implicated officers.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the deceased’s elder brother, Mr Samuel Nwaobia, narrated the chilling details. He alleged that Ikechi was abducted between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. by a group that tortured him for hours before handing him over, bound hand and foot, to officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by one Freedom Unuata.
Since then, the family has neither seen nor heard from Ikechi. Despite filing multiple petitions to the Abia State Police Command, Zone 9 Headquarters, and the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, they claim no meaningful action has been taken.
The family accused the police of ignoring confessional statements made by the group that implicated RRS officers in the alleged killing. They believe Ikechi was targeted for filing a petition that led to the arrest of the group’s leader in August 2024.
“This was a coordinated act of vengeance. The group tortured my brother and handed him over to officers who ensured he would not live to tell the story,” Samuel said.
The family is demanding a thorough investigation into the roles of the RRS officers involved, accountability for the circumstances surrounding Ikechi’s disappearance, and transparency from the Abia State Police Command. They are also calling for the release of Ikechi’s body for a proper burial and an end to the shielding of implicated officers.
Samuel further alleged that some officers falsely claimed to have transferred Ikechi to the Department of State Security Services (DSS) in Abuja. “This claim was later discovered to be a lie. The deliberate silence from the police suggests an attempt to cover up the crime,” he added.
The family has submitted evidence, including a video of the alleged torture, to the authorities and called on the IGP to ensure justice is served. They also appealed to human rights organisations and the media to amplify their demand for accountability.
The Abia State Police Command has not responded to the allegations yet. The family, however, remains resolute, vowing to pursue justice through all available legal and advocacy channels. Attempts to get a reaction from police headquarters were unsuccessful, as police spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi declined to comment on the issue.
