Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called for the immediate exposure and prosecution of officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Navy who allegedly killed a motorist, Mr Eziyi Uchendu recently at Umuikaa, Junction, Isiala-Ngwa, Abia State.
FENRAD said that the deceased, Uchendu, a motorist, met his end after an altercation over a bribe between him and officers of FRSC and the Nigerian Navy while en route to Umuahia from Aba along the Umuahia-Aba axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway leading to Owerrinta. FENRAD said it is worrisome that after various outcries and protests, including the famous youth-powered #EndSARS# Protests, the Nigerian custodian of arms keep turning their arms against those they are by law meant to protect and defend.
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director, FENRAD and Barr. Akande Femisi, Head of Corporate Accountability and Human Rights Enforcement FENRAD in a statement said that the extrajudicial killing should have no space in the space of Nigeria, during this period of insecurity when security agencies should be seeking the support of the people.
“It should be recalled, is happening at a time the Inspector-General of Police and the National Assembly had, for countless times, ordered that “roadblocks” be removed in various parts of the country, especially the South-East. “The presence of the Nigerian navy along the Umuikaa/Owerrinta axis is beginning to create an ugly scene rather than boost security and public confidence.
“FENRAD condemns the use of sandbags as barricades along Umuikaa/Owerrinta expressway by men of the Nigeria Navy deployed thereto; an act which today causes traffic issues for motorists and other road users – private and public. “FENRAD makes bold to also condemn in its entirety the use of hawkers, sometimes underaged/children/minors as fronts for collecting money (bribe) from motorists and road users for soldiers; a cruel act of child labour.” FENRAD calls on the leadership of the Navy and Federal Road Safety Corps to name the officers involved in the incident that led to Uchendu’s demise.
“According to available news sources, the shooting occurred when late Mr Eziyi Uchendu declined to bribe an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps who later raised an alarm for which the trigger-happy navy officer fatally shot Uchendu at close range. “FENRAD is of the view that only when the officers involved in the killing of Uchendu are produced by the named security agencies and publicly tried or prosecuted at a law court could justice be said to have been done and dispensed.
“FENRAD recalls that killing of motorists by law enforcement agents, became the “norm” during the 2020 lockdown and that some of these cases have no closure as of yet. “It is indeed worrisome that it was at the same Umuikaa Junction which is close to Owerrinta that an officer attached to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC killed a driver said to be conveying essential commodities during the lockdown.
“The state government, FENRAD says, should look into this matter, especially the activities of law enforcement officers at Umuikaa/Owerrinta expressway.” FENRAD, therefore, condemned the blocking of the federal way by the Army and Naval officers and continuous extortion of motorists through the use of proxy and stressed that the number of extrajudicial execution experienced in this checkpoint is a result of the motorist refusal to part with some bribe. FENRAD said that by the end of fourteen (14) working days if nothing is heard about this dastardly killing and continuous blocking of the federal Highway, FENRAD will institute legal action against the Nigerian navy and the FRSC accordingly.
