Family demands justice over son’s murder

By Patrick Ahanor
Benin

The Sini family of Warri, Delta state, have cried out to for help to ensure justice over the alleged killing of their son, Akporido Sini, 36, by suspected policemen attached to “B Division”, Warri.
Mrs Mary Odibo, yesterday led members of the aggrieved family to the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondent Chapel, to seek assistance of the media in their quest for justice.

According to her, the late Akporido was alleged to have been apprehended by police operatives attached to Police “B Division”, Warri, alongside two others, Efe Otikpo and Urhuemu over a robbery incident on March 15, 2017.
She said Akporido, Otikpo and Urhuemu, who were alleged to have stolen a Toyota Camry car, were apprehended at Ometa axis in Warri South Local Government Area.

Odibo explained that the late Akporido, who was a hair stylist, was returning from the service of songs of one of their in-laws at Ometa when he was arrested along with Otikpo and Urhuemu.
“I know that my brother cannot rise again; we are only asking for justice. Innocent souls are dying. The press should help us so that innocent people will not keep dying in the name of curbing criminality,” she said.
Another member of the family, Mrs Bethel Esini, said they were not allowed to see the suspects when the trio were conveyed to B Division, adding: “They asked us to come the following day by 10am.

“We came and waited till 2p.m. but could not gain entry; but my sister waited till 7 pm at the police gate. It was later on that Thursday evening that youths in our community showed us photographs that my brother was dead.
“Up till now, the police have not told us that our brother is dead. The Toyota Camry car belongs to my landlord’s son and he bought it last year in Warri with the original documents,” she said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Delta state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said the police was saddled with the responsibility to protect citizens and not to kill them.
“Police does not kill; our duty is to protect the citizens; that is it and we have issued a statement to that effect in Asaba,” Aniamaka said.

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