CP Aderemi Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, has ordered a thorough investigation into the death of Arinze Obunadike, a trader at the bridgehead drug market in the commercial city of Onitsha.

Mr Adeoye gave the order when Golden Iloh, member representing Ihiala Constituency II in the Anambra House of Assembly, made a formal complaint of the killing at the Command Headquarters in Awka on Monday.

MR Iloh said Mr Obunadike, from Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area, studied Political Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, before going into apprenticeship in the market.

The CP, who commended the people of the constituency and the family of the deceased for the peaceful way they are going about this matter, said the investigation would be sustained until the culprits are brought to book.

Mr Adeoye said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been directed to take over the case for a thorough investigation, assuring that the police would ensure that justice was done and that all those who had a hand in the extrajudicial killing were brought to justice.

According to him, the incident that happened was between the anti-touting squad supported by the Anambra vigilance group and the deceased.

“I don’t have all the facts about what happened, but I have directed the Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case for a thorough investigation.

“No one has the power or right to take the life of another person and where the victim is dead and cannot speak for himself, the government will speak for him.

“The event took place in the open, that means there were witnesses, we shall steadily conduct investigation until everyone involved is established, arrested and arraigned before the court.

“The killers must have their day in court and the bereaved will see that justice is done,” he said.

The lawmaker said the deceased, who was killed on February 16, was a hardworking young man with no history of crime.

He said though nothing could bring back the dead to life, all they were asking for was the unmasking of those involved and ensuring that they were prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

Mr Iloh said the people of Okija and the entire Ihiala Constituency II had decided not to take the laws into their own hands but decided to take the matter to the police with the confidence that they would treat the case diligently.

(NAN)