Dennis Erezi
Following the outcry by the family of one Chukwudi Okereke, a 34-year-old motor mechanic and father of three who die in police custody in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Police has said the deceased was implicated in a case involving kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism.
Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-koko, in a statement noted that the deceased was arrested because of his alleged involvement is serious crimes especially the kidnapping of a business woman and eventually received N3.5million from her relatives.
Iringe-koko, who stated that the Command was aware of a press conference held on May 23, 2024, by a member of the Civil Society Organizations regarding the death of one Okereke Chukwudi, said Investigations revealed that the deceased was a member of the Dey-Gbam secret cult gang a d He and his accomplices purchased one of the AK-47 rifles used during the operation.
The Guardian on Thursday reported that Okereke was arrested on January 11, 2024, from his small mechanic shop at the Ikokwu spare parts market in Port Harcourt, and died in the custody in the Octopus Strike.
The Police Spokesperson said the deceased arrest was related to the kidnapping of a female business tycoon (name withheld) in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt on September 7, 2023.
She said the victim was kidnapped by five armed gunmen and taken to a hideout in Elechi waterside.
She explained: “The kidnappers were armed with AK-47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, and locally-made pistols. The victim was held captive for seven (7) days and was released after the victim’s family paid a ransom of ₦3.5 million.
“Investigations revealed that the deceased was a member of the Dey-Gbam secret cult gang. He and his accomplices purchased one of the AK-47 rifles used during the operation. Two of the kidnappers have been arrested, and they are also members of the Dey-Gbam cult group.”
Iringe-koko also said last Sometime last month, the Police held a meeting with the parents and spouse of the deceased, who were accompanied by two of their family’s legal representatives.
She said during the meeting, it was agreed that the family would participate in the autopsy to determine the cause of death.
“The case of the death of the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigations to ensure a thorough and impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident,” she explained.
But the Father of the slain mechanic Okechukwu, who hails from Ebonyi state, while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt said following his son’s arrest, several attempts by him to ascertain the whereabouts of his son proved abortive as the police chased away from the station, claiming that his son was not in their custody.
The tearful 77 year old man explained that he only recently learnt of his son’s death after searching for him in the last three months.
The septuagenarian said, “On January 11,2024, I was in Chioba where I was told that my son Chukwudi Okereke was arrested. I thought it was a normal police arrest, I never knew that something was behind it. My son is a mechanic who buys and sells engines.
“When I asked where they took my son, I was told that he was taken to Octopus station, after three days, I went to the station to see my son, but the police chased me away that he was not there, so I started walking around, moving from one station to another with my younger sons and Chukwudi’s wife.
The Guardian gathered that Okereke, a young father and mechanic, died in police custody under unclear circumstances.
Also, it was learnt that the suspect’s six months old third child recently underwent a successful post-natal complication surgery, while the eight year old first child and four year old second are still grappling with the fact their father’s life had been cut short.
